would be an easy matter at the same time to remark its effect on the health and vigour of the animal, as well as the effect that any variation of climate had in promoting or retarding its fattening, its generating Hallow, the sweetness of the flesh produced, and other particulars. 2. The effect of food in altering the fineness and other qualities of wool. On this head opinions vary still more than in res pect to climate. Many persons believe, and assert, in the most decisive tone, that rich pastures, turnip, and other succulent food, tends irresistibly to debase the quality of the wool, and, in particular, to render it of a much coarser filament than the same fheep would other wise have produced. Of course they infer that it is vain ever to hope to rear fine wool in the improved fields of Britain, and that, if we wish to have as fine wool as formerly, we must break down our inclosures, and convert the rich pastures into barren heaths once more. Others, on the contrary, maintain, and among this clafs I would rank myself, that it is only in rich pastures that wool of the best quality can ever be obtained, and that fine pastures do not (independent of other circumstances) render the wool either coarser or finer in the filament, than it otherwise would have been. Without changing the finenefs of the filament, I think there is good reason to believe that abundance of rich and succulent food renders the wool softer, stronger, tougher, and probably somewhat longer also, than it would have been on barer pastures. So long, however, as these opposite opinions fhall rest upon particular observations of individuals only, 4 who may be very inaccurate, there is no end of wrangling; and those who have not been able to make observations themselves, must range themselves on the side that accident or inclination may lead them to espouse. A few experiments accurately made, and fairly recorded, would for ever settle this point, so as to enable mankind to reason justly with regard to it ever afterwards. 3. Exercise, what effect it has upon the quality of the wool. Under this head I would include management in general, folding, housing, laying, &c. Experiments on this head have been made in France; but not in such a way as to prove entirely decisive. It is alleged that sheep are kept perpetually in the open air, which afford the finest wool. The fact, however, is controverted by some; so that here experiments are still wanting, As to the effect of laying with tar, in particular, many experiments have been made that are sufficiently decisive, were they all known; but as others may be proposed, which every individual could make for himself at little or no trouble or expence, perhaps the most effectual way to settle this point would be for the society to digest a proper plan for conducting these experiments, and publish it for the information of all concerned. The same may be said with respect to the 4th and 5th objects of inquiry. 6. Connection between the size of the animal and fineness of the wool. • Prejudice has been forward in deciding this question without experiment. It is in general very confident ly afserted by many, that large sheep, that carry much wool, necefsarily afford it only of a coarse quality, and that fine wool can be expected from small sheep alone. This, however, I venture to afsert, from abundant experience, is not true. I have had large fheep that afforded very fine wool, and exceeding small ones that produced wool as coarse as goats hair. It is easy to find examples of the reverse of this. A judicious set of experiments, therefore, which fhould set this matter in its true light would highly useful to the inquiry in which we are engaged. To be concluded in our next. prove OBSERVATIONS ON THE POORS RATES. SIR, To the Editor of the Bee. IN your review of Sir John Sinclair's statistics (Bee vol.iii. No. 9.) there is an account of the poor of Dunnichan the population of which is 872, being supported, and a great surplus saved of L. 20 a year, and this is brought as a proof that the maintenance of the poor may be safely left to voluntary donations. If the poor of the parish above named be sufficiently clothed and fed, it affords this proof indeed perfectly valid. I fhall state the amount of the annual expenditure of the poor of the parish of Wigton in Cumberland, where the poor laws of England are inforced, to to be compared with that of Dunichen. The population of the parish of Wigton may be set at 3500, or betwixt that number and 4000, and the average expenditure on the poor is upwards of L. 500. It must be remarked, that this part of Cumberland is a place where provisions are cheap; and it is believed, the VOL. ix. poor rates are much more heavy in the south of England. Is it not of such importance as that commifsioners fhould be appointed to examine whether the poor of Scotland or England are better fed; and so to fhew to what this great inequality in the provisions for them is to be ascribed? Your most obedient servant, Wigton May, 8. 1792. A. ROBINSON. To the above I beg leave to add the following account of a case respecting poors rates, extracted from the annals of agriculture, by Arthur Young esq; with the remarks of Mr Young upon it, as it shows in a still stronger light than the above, the baneful effects of the poor laws in England. DEAR SIR, 46 To Arthur Young esq. Agreeable to your request, I have sent you extracts from the rate book and register of the parish of Glemsford, from the year 1772 to 1790 inclusive. I forbear to comment on the last four years; I fhall only observe, that in the first seven years of the period above mentioned, a worthy magistrate, now no more (who was then resident in the parish,) gave unremitted attention to all the minutiae of parochial business; and that from 1788 there has been no justice nearer than four miles from the scene of action." Extracts from the register and rate book of the parish of Glemsford in the county of Suffolk. Baptisins. Burials. Rates collected for the Years. relief of the poor. S. d. f. 6785 8 2 590 16 6 2 Rates collected for the relief of the poor. L. s. d. f. 482 18 3 O 516 16 8 610 3 5 30 40 35 37 46 549 16 8 6 4 6 1789 38 34 35 1039 6 4 "It is necessary to observe, in these extracts, that the register of baptisms and burials begins January Ist, and ends December 31st in every year; and that the rate book includes all the sums collected annually for the relief of the poor, from Easter to Easter. The parish contains about 2400 acres, and is rated at about L. 1800 a-year. It pofsefses L. 40 ayear in estate or rent charge, for the use of the poor.” Your's sincerely, Observations on the above by Mr Young. THE public are much obliged to this gentleman for bringing before their tribunal so amazing an instance of enormity in the rise of rates as this account exhibits. The table of deaths does not allow us to attribute this effect to any uncommon fatality of distemper; nor does the column of births allow any conclusion that it arises from a great increase of pepulation. We know that it could not proceed from N. B. This amounts to 9s. per acre nearly; and including the L. 40 Edit. mentioned below, it amounts to 10 s. per acre. |