ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



305 



ing. The farmer soon learns that the one-crop plan is 

 unprofitable. 



The Animal as a Source of Employment in the Winter. The 



handling of stock in the winter and inclement weather affords 

 the farmer and his helpers employment at a season of the year 

 when otherwise they would be idle. In the Northern States 

 plowing and the ordinary outdoor occupations of the farmer 

 cannot be carried on during the winter and inclement weather. 



Wool producers. 



Animals as Companions. Many animals are valued by man 

 not so much from a commercial point of view as from a social 

 point. Among the animals that might be mentioned in this list 

 are the various kinds of dogs and cats, rabbits, hares, pet squir- 

 rels, canary birds and other kinds of songsters, guinea pigs, and 

 the like. The raising and selling of animals of this class forms 

 an important industry in some parts of our country. 



Improvement of Livestock. In our stud/ of plants we learned 

 that many of our common vegetables were developed by careful 

 selection from wild plants and good cultivation. Careful selection 

 and proper mating of animals through many generations have 



PBAG. AGHICUL. 20 



