CHAPTER VII. 



ANIMALS. 



/r T\BE two forms of life upon the earth are plants and 

 A animals. The chief purpose of vegetable life is to 

 supply the wants of animal life. The principal object in 

 raising plants, or crops, in agriculture, is to obtain a 

 supply of food for animals. 



A knowledge of these crops is not completed until we 

 have considered them as fed to animals to produce meat, 

 milk, wool, work, etc. 



It is very important to understand the nature, the 

 peculiarities, the best methods of feeding, and the proper 

 care and management of our domestic animals. 



The Composition of the Bodies of Animals. The bodies 

 of animals are composed of very nearly the same ele- 

 ments as plants. 



Some animals, like the cow or horse, live mostly upon 

 vegetation, and are called herbivorous, or plant-eating 

 animals. Others, like the cat and dog, live largely upon 

 the flesh of other animals, and are called carnivorous, 

 or flesh-eating animals. Some live partly upon pUnts 

 and partly upon animals and animal products. 



But animal products, as meat, milk, eggs, etc., are 

 produced from vegetable matter, so that plants are the 

 original source of all animal food. 



The only substances that enter into the bodies of ani- 

 mals, apart from plants, and animal products produced 

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