438 Hislory of the Author's 



of the native growth of Spain. These facts surely prove that it is peculiarity of 

 breed which we are to consider as chiefly productive of fine wool, in spite of the 

 operation of other causes ; and that the Merino breed is capable of bearing its 

 transcendent fleece in this or any other country, in which it can subsist in sound 

 and robust heahh. 



I have also stated above, that, according to the general opinion of cultivators on 

 the Continent, any breed of ewes, however coarse and long in the fleece, will, on 

 the fourth cross of the Merino ram, give progeny with short wool equal to the 

 Spanish. 



Of the truth of this proposition I have, however, some doubts, derived from 

 experience. The wool of the fourth cross of the Wiltshire breed is evidently much 

 longer, and appears to me to be less fine and soft than the Spanish ; and the same 

 is true widi regard to the specimen of Cape wool, of the same cross, sent me by Sir 

 George Yonge. It is certain, however, that one cross more would, in both these 

 cases, effect the desired purpose. 



If we suppose the result of the admixture of the blood of the Merino ram to be 

 always in an exact arithmetical proportion, and state the native blood in the ewe as 

 64, then the first cross would give-|^ of the Merino ; the second ^ ; the third -f^-; 

 the fourth -f J; the fifth -fi; the sixth -fl; and so on. In other words, the first 

 cross would leave 32 parts in 64, or half, of the English quality; the second 16 

 parts, or one-fourth ; the third 8 parts, or one-eighth ; the fourth 4 parts, or one- 

 sixteenth ; the fifth 2 parts, or one thirty-second; the sixth 1 part, or one sixty- 

 fourth ; and so on. 



Nov/ if the filament of the Wiltshire, or any other coarse wool, be in diameter 

 double that of the Ryeland, it is obvious that, according to the above statement, 

 it would require exacdy one cross more to bring the hybrid wool of the former to 

 the same fineness as that of the latter. This, I believe, very exactly corresponds 

 \vith the fact. The difference between one-eighth and one-sixteenth is very con- 

 siderable, and must certainly be easily perceived both by a good microscope, and 

 in the cloth which is manufactured from such wool. In the latter method it certainly 

 has been perceived ; but I have hitherto had no opportunity of trying the difference 

 by the former. The fifih cross, as I have before observed, brings the Merino- 

 Wilts wool to the same standard as the fourth of the Merino-Ryeland. 



This advantage is very considerable in favour of the Ryeland, and other fine- 



