OBSERVATIONS ON THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL AND CLIMATE UPON WOOL; From Which Is Deduced A Certain And Easy Method Of Improving The Quality Of English Clothing Wools

London, printed for J. Harding, 1808.. TITLE CONTINUED: And Preserving The Health Of Sheep, With Hints For Management Of Sheep after Shearing: An inquiry into the structure, growth, and formation of wool and hair, and remarks on the means by which the Spanish breed of sheep may be made to preserve the best qualitites of its fleece unchanged in different climates. FIRST EDITION 1808, EX LIBRARY COPY FROM THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, with their ink stamp to blank side of title page and last page under Finish, these are the only library markings. 8vo, approximately 220 x 130 mm, 8½ x 5¼ inches, pages: ix, [1 - errata], [1]-157, pages *111 & *112 are extra pages added making the page count 159 (see image ), rebound in maroon buckram, gilt title to spine, new endpapers, Royal Society Bookplate to first pastedown. Occasional pale foxing, a few pages have a small pale brown stain to margins, a few pages at beginning slightly dusty to top corners, otherwise a very good copy. Robert Bakewell (1725-1795) was an English agriculturalist, now recognized as one of the most important figures in the British Agricultural Revolution. In addition to work in agronomy, Bakewell is particularly notable as the first to implement systematic selective breeding of livestock. His advancements not only led to specific improvements in sheep, cattle and horses, but contributed to general knowledge of artificial selection. Arguably the most influential of Bakewell's breeding programs was with sheep. Using native stock, he was able to quickly select for large, yet fine-boned sheep, with long, lustrous wool. Selective breeding, which Charles Darwin described as artificial selection, was an inspiration for his theory of natural selection. In "On the Origin of Species" he cited Bakewell's work. (Wikipedia) See: Mary S. Aslin, Catalogue of the Printed Books on Agriculture, page 12. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.