and Ayncultural Seeds into Victoria. 157 



in the same period^ and yields on an average three pounds of 

 wool per annum. 



The black Astracan sheep is another variety of sheep that 

 mij>ht be introduced. This produces -wool only inferior to that 

 of Cashmere. It feeds on furze or dry ojrass. Its flesh is 

 sweet and Avell-flavourcd. It is found in Karakool, a small 

 canton between Bokhara and the Oxus; but it has been al- 

 leged that it will thrive in no other place — that it has been 

 transported to Persia and other countries Avithout success. 



The Yak (the bos pocphagns ov poephagus gninniens) is another 

 valuable animal. This animal, sometimes called the grunting 

 ox, is found in Thibet. It is a flrst-rate milker. The males 

 make good workers or beasts of burden. It has long pendant 

 hair, of which a kind of coarse cloth is made. The skins, when 

 tanned, form excellent rugs. The skins of the young are 

 curly, very beautiful, and arc much esteemed. 



I cannot lose the present opportunity of remarking that it is 

 possilile to think so much of those things we have not got, that 

 the value of those things we actually have may be overlooked. 

 I think the finc-woolled merino sheep furnishes a case in point. 

 Instead of trying to improve the qualities of this valuable 

 animal, it is about to be displaced b}'^ coarse -Avoolled varieties. 

 The result will be felt in a few years, when, by the increase 

 of this description of stock, without a corresponding augmen- 

 tation of the population, the fleece must assuredly come to be 

 regarded as of more value than the carcass. 



Again, we have already in the colony many things the value 

 of which is knovvii only to the scientific, or not recognized by 

 the practical agriculturist, as of any value whatever. The 

 sunfloAver, the Palnia CJtristi, and the Agave Americana are 

 examples of this. All these grow Avell here. The latter, as 

 the American aloe, is to be seen in our gardens, growing in 

 the utmost vigour and luxuriance, but it is not esteemed as of 

 any value, yet it may be cultivated as a hedge row ; the leaves 

 may be used, as they are in Spain, as scouring paper ; their 

 essence may be made into a soap that is equally efficient in 

 salt and in fresh water ; and from them a valuable medicine 

 also is extracted ; Avhilst an admirable l)ed can be manufac- 

 tured from the fibres of the IcaACs. A sample of this fibre, 

 both in its natural colour and dyed black, is at present on tlie 

 table. This is an article only recently introduced into the 

 colony, by Mr. White, opposite to the Hospital, and, ap- 

 parently, is superior to much of the liorse-hair now used for 

 the general purposes of the ujiholsterer. 



