On  the  Purik  Sheep  of  Thibet. 
63 
be  some  risk  that  when  all  England  is  thoroughly  drained,  we 
may  gain  a general  improvement  indeed  of  climate  for  corn  crops, 
while  our  grass  and  turnips  may  suffer  from  the  change.  Already 
it  is  often  difficult  to  grow  turnips  in  our  dry  inland  counties, 
such  as  Berkshire.  In  the  Eastern  counties  the  sea  breezes 
bring  showers  for  the  turnips  when  they  are  most  wanted,  that  is, 
in  summer.  Hence  probably  their  superiority  in  the  cultivation 
of  those  roots,  the  certainty  of  success  encouraging  the  use  of 
artificial  manures. 
Ph.  P. 
II. — On  the  Purik  Sheep  of  Thibet. 
Communicated  by  Command  of  H.R.H.  The  Prince  Albert. 
From  Colonel  the  Hon.  C.  H.  Phipps. 
Sir,' — Last  year  some  sheep  from  Thibet — one  ram  and  three 
ewes — were  presented  to  the  Queen,  and  were  by  Her  Majesty’s 
command  turned  out  upon  the  farm  at  Osborne.  The  extent  to 
which  these  sheep  increased  and  throve  appeared  to  His  Royal 
Highness  The  Prince  so  satisfactory,  that  he  directed  me  to  call 
upon  Mr.  Toward,  Her  Majesty’s  bailiff,  for  a detailed  report, 
thinking  it  might  be  interesting  to  the  members  of  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society.  That  report  I now,  by  His  Royal  Highness’s 
command,  enclose  to  you.  You  will  observe  that  the  increase  in 
11  months  is  without  one  instance  of  twins. — I have  the  honour 
to  be.  Sir,  your  obedient  humble  servant, 
C.  B.  Phipps. 
Buckingham  Palace,  Feb.  14,  1850. 
Sir, — The  Tliibetian  sheep  arrived  here  in  March,  1849 — 
one  ram  and  three  ewes.  The  ram  (Runjeet  Singh)  and  one 
ewe  (Ranee)  were  about  two  years  old;  the  other  two  ewes 
(Tibetta  and  Sultania)  were  tegs  about  a year  old  : — 
Ranee  lambed  April  12,  and  again  October  8 
Tibetta  „ „ 22,  „ „ 24 
Sultania  ,,  ,,  25,  ,,  „ 22 
Tibetta’s  lamb,  born  April  2'2nd,  gave  birth  to  a ewe-lamb 
on  the  8th  instant.  We  have  now  11,  old  and  young — 1 ram 
and  10  ewes.  The  three  old  ewes  and  the  remaining  two,  born 
in  April,  appear  to  be  in  a state  of  gestation,  one  of  the  latter 
in  an  advanced  stage.  I think  it  would  be  better  if  they  were 
not  allowed  to  breed  so  young,  as  it  must  impede  their  grow  th. 
As  regards  their  qualities  for  laying  on  meat,  I have  as  yet  had 
no  opportunity  to  prove  them  ; the  ewes  have  nearly  the  whole 
