Comparative Fattening Qualities of Sheep. 443 



out in the apparent pro2:ress of the animals, the result would 

 have been different had the experiment been concluded at some 

 other period of its course than the one adopted. But although it 

 is true that during single or individual periods of the experiment, 

 the result as to the relative amount of increase given for an equal 

 quantity of food would have been reversed, yet, if the experiment 

 had been concluded at the end of twelve weeks, or at any of the 

 succeeding periods of weighing, instead of in 26 weeks, the result 

 would still have been the same in direction, though sometimes 

 more and sometimes less in favour of the Hampshires than at 

 present. 



It is true, indeed, that from all the results given in the preceding 

 pages, so various in their detail, yet giving in the gross some 

 common points of consistency, we may at least learn over again the 

 lesson that in seeking to elicit general rules, when the subtle 

 principle of animal life is involved in our calculations, great 

 caution is requisite so to multiply our results as to exclude the in- 

 fluence of casual and individual sources of error. Nevertheless we 

 conceive that the gross results of 40 sheep fed for 26 weeks, can- 

 not but be taken as giving some fair points of comparison, whether 

 of a negative character or otherwise, as between the two breeds. 

 And we believe that it may at least be concluded as the result of 

 the experiment, that by the two, equal quantities of food will be 

 consumed by a given weight of animal, within an equal period of 

 time ; but that the Hampshire will give a greater increase for this 

 food than the Sussex sheep. In the case of our experiment this 

 deficient weight of increase in the Sussex has been exactly com- 

 pensated for by the greater quantity of the wool and the higher 

 price of the Sussex mutton ; and it is probable that wherever, as 

 in the neighbourhood of London or other large towns, there is 

 what may be termed a fancy price for Sussex mutton, that breed 

 may, other things being equal, prove the most profitable, as it cer- 

 tainly is superior in form and general appearance. In many dis- 

 tricts, however, no such fancy price exists, and in these localities 

 — always supposing them otherwise fitted for either — the larger 

 breed would probably be the most profitable. It is our intention 

 to pursue this subject, however, and in our next experiment to 

 include several other breeds of sheep, by which we hope to be 

 able to decide more definitely as to the relation of food consumed 

 to meat produced, by animals of different forms and Aveights. 



The gross results of all the Tables embodied in the pre- 

 ceding pages, are given at one view in the following tabulated 

 summary : 



