BREEDS. 427 



respect to the really useful details of practice in this as in 

 other branches of their rural economy. We learn, however, 

 that, in the treatment of the animal, an extreme attention 

 is paid to cleanliness and regular feeding. English traders 

 who have resided in the suburbs of Canton, describe the care 

 of the Chinese, in this respect, as exceeding any thing that 

 is practised in Europe. It is much to be regretted that we 

 remain so ignorant of the few useful arts, in which we might 

 hope to profit by the experience of this jealous people. Their 

 knowledge of details, founded on experience and practice, is 

 nearly all they have to communicate. Of principles, and 

 any thing that can be termed science, they are as ignorant 

 as barbarians : they can exhibit mechanical skill, and imi- 

 tate what is placed before them ; but in almost every thing 

 that relates to the higher powers of inventive genius they are 

 as yet in the state of children. During their boasted dy- 

 nasties of numerous centuries, the Chinese people have been 

 the slaves of etiquette and form. They have formed an em- 

 pire, but one in which the human mind has been doomed to 

 stationary bondage. 



The Hogs of China which have been introduced into Eng- 

 land, are too delicate and sensible of cold to be of much eco- 

 nomical value. The breed, therefore, is rarely maintained 

 in its state of purity. It is chiefly by intermixture with the 

 native races that its value is recognised ; and it is in this 

 respect that the introduction of the Chinese breed into Eng- 

 land has been attended with beneficial results. The fault of 

 the old Swine of England was their coarseness of form, and 

 their consequent inability to arrive at early maturity of 

 muscle and fatness. The mixture of the Asiatic blood has 

 everywhere tended to correct this defect; though, at the same 

 time, it has lessened the size of the native races, and perhaps 

 their power to produce numerous young. The flesh of these 

 Eastern Hogs is peculiarly tender and good, but it is suited 

 for pork for the table, rather than for bacon. The pure race 

 communicates the quality of its pork to its mixed descend- 



