THE MANNER IN WHICH 



THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND PLANTS 



HAVE AIDED CIVILIZATION 



BY 

 WINNINGTON-INGRAM 



There can be no doubt that Man has not suddenh^ 

 reached his present position on the earth, but has onl}' 

 attained it after vast ages of development and progress. 



.Man, though weak in body compared with the other 

 animals, has struggled upwards through the gloom of ages 

 to hold the supreme command. Many circumstances 

 assisted his rise, and perhaps, indeed, the very conscious- 

 ness of his weakness was one chief help in his upward 

 course, for that consciousness made him seek the aid of 

 other forms, and he pressed into his service those animals 

 and plants which seemed best adapted to his needs. This 

 practice was begun many thousands of years ago, and for 

 a long time little advantage was gained. By degrees, 

 however, some races who were more enterprising than 

 others domesticated the wild animals, and so obtained 

 flocks and herds and added to their own strength by using 

 various animals as assistants in the chase as beasts of 

 burden and for food and clothing. 



The dog, the horse, the ox and the sheep are those 

 animals which have been most useful to the primitive 

 savage in raising his condition and in promoting his 

 civilization. 



J2 



