EARLY IMPROVERS OF SHEEP. 07 



CHAPTER IV. 



IMl'UOVEMENT OF THE BKEKDS. 



(G3.) This subject requires for its due consideration 

 some slif^ht attainments in anatomy and physiology, 

 but as such attainments, slight though they ma_v be, 

 are as rarely met with as required among the bulk of 

 mankind, so the want of them may be the less regretted, 

 seeing it is possible to render even the intricacies of 

 the study plain and simple, by an appeal to facts of 

 every-day occurrence ; which, having attracted the 

 notice of the most unthinking, will serve as hooks on 

 which I shall try to hang the better part of an inter- 

 esting inquiry. 



(64.) Early Improvers of Sheep There cannot be 



a more certain sign of the rapid advances of a people 

 in civilization and prosperity, than increasing attention 

 to the improvement of live-stock. It tells of a popu- 

 lation limited in regard to soil, and making every effort 

 to remedy the want, by an economical doubling of the 

 return for the usual outlay : for, while a tribe wanders 

 at large, remaining at a particular place only so long 

 as provender holds out, and, striking tlie tent, departs 

 for some far-oft' field, so long will their flocks be suffer- 

 ed to roam neglected, and flourish or decay, as chance 

 directs. 



From the time of Jacob, the possibility of deter- 

 mining the nature of the offspring, by impressions on 

 the parent?, has been apparent to all ; and the best 

 means of j)erpetuating a good qualily, or removing ;> 



