CROSS BREEDING FOR WOOL. 235 



as it were. This is essentially true, as has been shown by 

 the numerous failures made by inexperienced breeders of 

 this most easily impressed animal, whether for good or ill. 

 And if this be true, as regards the sheep as a mere mutton 

 maker, it must be still more so in regard to it as a wool 

 producer. And yet by following strictly along the right line 

 of the skillful and experienced breeder, there is a most im- 

 portant work to be done in the variation and improvement 

 of the fleece. We know what has been accomplished by the 

 skill of the breeders in improving the carcass of the various 

 sheep, and in developing new breeds by mixture of the new 

 breeds with the old and inferior ones; and it is not to be 

 doubted that equal improvement and variety in the fleece 

 may be accomplished in a similar way by crossing for the 

 product of new staples of wool for the demands of the manu- 

 facturers. The following remarks on this- important sub- 

 ject were published a short time ago in the columns of the 

 Country Gentleman the leading agricultural journal in the 

 world the editor of which has very kindly and courteously 

 given permission for the reproduction of the articles in this 

 volume:* 



"The future of the wool industry, including both the 

 growth of the staple and the manufacture of it, must be" 

 large and continuous. The progress of civilization among 

 the hitherto savage human races will undoubtedly be much 

 more rapid in the future than ever before, and the dark ages 

 of these unfortunate people are in course of rapid removal 

 by means of commerce, and the competition of powerful 

 nations for spheres of influence in the newly opened regions 

 of the dark continent. Of the whole of our race, only one- 

 third are really clothed, one-third go completely naked, and 

 the other third wear only the modest breech clout. But of 

 the third who are considered as clothed, fully three-fourths 

 are only insufficiently supplied with clothing, and luxury to 

 them in this respect is a thing unknown and undreamed of. 

 So that an enormous growth of the wool industry is in cer- 

 tain sight, and all the resources of the shepherd will soon be 

 taxed to supply these certain demands. History repeats it- 

 self, and as the dark ages of Europe and Asia have gone, 

 and comfort and luxury, the growth of peace and civilized 

 industry, have taken the place of bloody anarchy and pov- 

 *These articles were contributed to the Country Gentleman by the author. 



