Merino-Ryeland Breed of Sheep, 471 



conversant with tlie growth of our native breeds of sheep ; but I presume that there 

 are few instances, in which the same weight of carcase in rams, at the same age^ 

 selected without regard to form, and put with so many animals on moderate pasture. 

 in order merely to grow, and not to fatten, would, in the same time, have acquired 

 a superior increase of weight. 



They, certainly, though rams, and fed together in such numbers, and at so un- 

 favourable a season of the year, proved fully equal in capacity of growth to the 

 South Down and new Leicester wethers, in the experiment of the late Duke of 

 Bedford, recorded by Mr, Young.* Those sheep appear to have been lean at the 

 age when the comparison commences; notwithstanding which, to carcases weighing 

 at least -f- more than mine, the South Downs, in the same space of time, added 

 nearly 31b. each less than mine, and the New-Leicesters only \^^ oz. each more. 

 As far as I have been able to observe of this breed, the great progress which 

 they make is from 2 to 4-tooth. The proper time to fatten them will therefore be 

 from 4 to 6-tooth. But both periods may probably be accelerated by early and 

 uniform luxuriance of keep. Perhaps also the same end may be promoted by 

 breeding in and in. This has been suggested to me by Mr. Davis, who thinks the 

 early fattening of the New-Leicester breed to be chiefly owing to this cause. He 

 says, that this constant incestuous intercourse produces, in both sexes, a deficiency 

 of the powers of generation, and of that of nursing in the female; reducing them ta 

 a state approaching to that of eunuchs, who, in all animals, are observed to have a 

 peculiar tendency to obesity. This conclusion is derived not only from what takes 

 place in the Leicester sheep, but from the case of the North Devon cows, which 

 have constantly intermingled with those of a small district around them, and have 

 long been famed for a form and disposition to fatten, which makes them much 

 sought for by the butcher and grazier. These cows, however, are notoriously bad 

 milkers, and go barren to the western fairs in greater numbers than those of any 

 other breed. If this opinion be well founded, it shews that the Divine Law against 

 incest has a physical, as well as moral end ; and strongly illustrates the beautiful 

 sentiment of the poet: 



"In human works, tho' labour 'd on with pain, 



" A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain, 



" In God's, one single can its end produce; 



'• Yet serves to second too some other use» 

 * Annals of Agriculture, vol. xxvi. p. 412. 



