400 AGRICULTURE. 



these high-producing animals were allowed to 

 reproduce themselves. Their ability to produce 

 milk was increased by proper care and feeding. 

 From each succeeding generation the best cows 

 were selected and allowed to reproduce, the 

 methods of feeding and caring for them were 

 improved, until we have the dairy-cow of to-day, 

 a veritable milk-producing machine. 



Further illustrations of man's efforts to in- 

 crease the efficiency of domestic animals may 

 be observed in the trotting-horse, the lard hog, 

 the wool-producing sheep ; in fact, all classes of 

 domestic animals. 



Thus, through these factors of food, care, 

 selection and general management, prompted 

 by man's necessities and his desires, the various 

 classes and breeds of live stock have been 

 developed. They have, however, been de- 

 veloped under vastly different conditions and in 

 widely separated locations. The development 

 of various classes in their respective locations 

 has been due to environment and the demands 

 of the people. The beef-cattle business on the 

 open range developed there because of the vast 

 amount of cheap and government lands which 

 might be pastured. The scarcity of help and 

 markets, and the vast amount of land and cattle 

 which must be under the supervision of one 

 man, forbade the pursuit of any but an exten- 

 sive business. Quite opposite are the conditions 



