work the tirst plough iisetl in the colony. Governor Kuig, besides encoura<^ing Macarthnr, availed himself of the services <if Mr. Wood, a wool-sorter, in order to improve the sheep owned by others. The Rev. Mi ^ftirBden'^* had improved his sheep, though not at Buch ex[teii>^e as Macar- thur incurred. At the recommendation of IVIarsden and Macarthiu', Wood was ordered to inspect all the sheep in the colony* In Sept. 1805 he made a report. Wherever settlers had endeavoured to improve the wool, beneticial results had heen attained, I **But it IB with concern that I observeil Ihij* great niitional oUjuet may ^ be many years retanletl by an unaccountable prejudice which appears to prevail in favour of weight of carcase iiiatead of hneiiei5« of fleece; coarse wool w^onhl " not pay for »*on(liug to England, nor if it would is it wanterl, whereas, on the Cf>ntrary, so great is the scarcity of Spanirfh wool that it Bells forahnotsL any ])rict% and serious apprehensions are entertained l>y the
- beijtdnformed people that the French will increase their mauufnclurea
I of fine cloth ami exert their influence over Spain to prevent <ireat Britain I from participating in the purchase of the fine wool of the latter country/' The Governor reported that the examination of the flocks; 'in the colony had heen *'veiy acetn'ately " conducted by Mr, Marsden and Wood ; that the change from hair to
- wool of different depjrees of fineness had heen and con-
tinues ameliorating beyond belief/' He was not about to apply the resources of the colony to the industry otherwise than by improving the flocks maintained for distribution to settlers — " Experience having pointed out tiie fallacy of appropriatiog puldic ialK>ur and expense in works of that nature, which thrive ao much better when conducted by the individual who has interest in its produce* and whoBe situation, uncrHinected with other duties, enables him to watcliT and turn the various changes to an improving productive account." He relied on Macartbm^'a energy to prove to settlors the advantage of the Merino blood, and was ** convinced that compnlsion/' exercised upon the short-sighted people who bred sheep only for thek carcases, would not be beneflciaL In a private letter to Piper at Norfolk Island Macarthnr wrote (June 1805) : ** Everything is settled to my satkfac- tion, and I entertain hopes of nniversal peace once more ^' In Dec. 18U4 King aeiit to Sir Joseph Bankii three fleeeea grown by Mai^sden^ **who as far as> my itleas go is the beat practical farmer in the colony.*' He wished the tteeces to be laid before the Agricjultural Society if Lord Cam den should approve.
