130 AGRICULTtTRAL MUSEUM 



good sense. It is by the neglect of, or by an unremit- 

 ting attention to, this great secret in rural oeconomj'^j 

 and by the adoption of animiils for husbandry labor, 

 which do not consume our food, but on tlie contrary, 

 add most considerably to it, that the national supply 

 will be either scanty or abundant. 



The quest'on having of late been repeatedly asked, 

 what proportion of the Merino blood it would be ad- 

 viseablc to bring into the South down breed with advan- 

 tage? My answer has been — One quarter only, provi- 

 ded the outward resemblance and character of the 

 South-down is intended to be preserved ; the Uj'eland, 

 being a white faced sheep, assimilates with the Merino 

 more readily, and will bear one ha!f, or even more. 



With the strictest regard to truth, it may be said, that 

 the unwearied attention of the Bath and West of Eng- 

 land society, and the abilities of many of its leading mem. 

 bers,(one ofwhom is in himself an host, I mean Dr. Par- 

 ry) could alone have dispelled those doubts, which hang 

 over the minds of numberless landed proprietors and ma- 

 nufacturers, deeply interested in the cv^nt,^ but despaii'^ 

 ing of ultimate success. 



Its centrical situation as to the superfine manufactures 

 before alluded to. a consequent connexion between the 

 landed and commercial interests, naturallj"^ pointed it out 

 as the centre ofsuchuntertakings, and induced me to soli- 

 cit its aid. Our much lamented President, the late Duke 

 of Bedford, was decidedly of the same opinion, and ac- 

 ted up to it accordingly. His loss, great as it is to the far- 

 ming pai t of oiu' eomnuinity, would have been irrepara- 

 ble, were it not that his successor is bent on promoting 

 objects so notoriously beneficial ; an intimate know- 

 ledge of him enables nie to say, that as far as J am com- 

 petent to judge, he has abiUty and knowledge to perfect 

 them. 



From the foregoing observations, it will appear, that, in 

 its common application to British husbandry, the Span- 

 ish breed of sheep has the power, perhaps exclusively, to 

 maintain its quality of wool i for, strong keep will length- 



