94 Col. Humphreys on a new Variety 



that these have no inconsiderable influence, particularly the 

 first, on the fleece, in the torrid zone. In all temperate re- 

 gions, and even in the higher latitudes, where extreme cold 

 prevails, flocks may be improved by care, or deteriorated by 

 the want of it. 



The settlement of this point would not fail to have a ten- 

 dency to eradicate the remains of the pernicious prejudice, 

 that the Merinos of Spain cannot be bred out of that country, 

 without degenerating and losing their essential character for 

 wool. 



The beneficent Creator having ordained *' that all creatures 

 shall increase after their kinds," has still left much for man 

 to do, in regard to those which are made more immediately 

 subservient to his use. 



We are not ignorant how much the agricultural nations of 

 Europe and America are indebted for meliorations in their 

 husbandry to modern researches and discoveries in chemistry, 

 natural history, and other branches of philosophy ; as well as 

 to experiments of eminent farmers, and especially breeders 

 of cattle. 



My experience has been too limited for me to flatter myself 

 with being able to add to the stock of materials for investiga- 

 tion and improvement, except by becoming in some degree 

 the medium of communication between the agriculturalists of 

 the two continents. 



I have formerly exerted myself to enable my countrymen 

 to improve their breeds of useful animals, perhaps not alto- 

 gether without success. My present object should rather be, 

 to supply facilities and inducements for abler men, possessed 

 -of better opportunities, to discover and disclose the best means 



