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country whose civilization is of such ancient date as China, the most 

 perfect of domestic animals: I mean by this, the animals that are 

 furthest removed from their natural condition. 



Now, knowing what wonderful changes can be, and are produced 

 in the vegetable kingdom by skilful modes of propagating, culti- 

 vating and artificially treating plants, causing them completely to 

 change their nature, producing all kinds of variety of monstrous 

 growth, double flowers, fruit and seed in enormous abundance; — all 

 this being done by the interference of man, may I ask, is it not pro- 

 bable that a people like the Chinese, whom we know to have practised 

 these arts for ages, — is it not likely that they have by artificial means 

 induced a similar power in these domestic animals ; as we find, for 

 example, the pigs, the fowls, the geese and the sheep of China more 

 prolific than the same animals in any other part of the world ? In- 

 stances of Chinese sows producing twenty-two at a litter have come 

 within my own observation ; their fowls are certainly unequalled for 

 the number of their eggs, and their geese as reproducers stand un- 

 rivalled. 



It is almost needless to say that the result of cultivation, whether 

 as applied to plants or animals, has produced an unnatural and ab- 

 normal condition : instances too numerous to mention may be found, 

 but it will be sufficient to notice the pigeons and ducks. The former 

 in a wild state produce only two broods in a season ; while in a state 

 of domestication they continue to breed all the year. The domestic 

 ducks not only produce a much larger number of eggs, but one 

 drake is sufficient for a number of ducks, five or six ; while in a state 

 of nature they universally are found in pairs. 



Experience has proved that by a careful admixture or crossing in 

 the breed of the Chinese pigs, geese, and fowls, the mixed races are 

 much improved in quality and size, while they retain the reproduc- 

 tive power undiminished, and the animals are more hardy. As 

 regards poultry, I cannot admire the celebrated Cochin China 

 breed in their pure state, but I have abundant proof of their great 

 value for breeding and crossing ; the least possible trace of the breed 

 appears sufficient to impart all that is desirable, and by after-breed- 

 ing, the improvement that may be made is as astonishing as it is un- 

 deniable. As crossing the breed in the animals before mentioned 

 has been attended with so much success, there is no reason why 

 crossing the Sheep should not also produce a favourable result. 



It must not be supposed, because the Chinese have banished their 

 Sheep (having found cotton and rice more suited to their climate 

 and better adapted to their wants), that they are unworthy of our 

 notice, taking into consideration that in this country we cannot grow 

 cotton or rice. 



Having witnessed the many attempts that have been made to re- 

 duce some of the existing wild animals to a state of domestication, 

 and observing the utter failure in all instances of producing what 

 may fairly be called a domestic variety of any true species, I am 

 inclined to believe it is necessary as a means of reducing wild animals 

 to a domestic condition, that they must be crossed with nearly allied 



