234 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



there and then, under those circumstances alone, that "we can 

 hope to have any influence upon the reproduction of our do- 

 mesticated animals. 



I think I have shown you plainly enough that our farmers 

 must study embryology, at least those of them who mean 

 to influence and improve the raising of stock, and impart 

 their knowledge to their fellow-workers. Of course it 

 is not expected that every farmer should be a])le to an- 

 alyze the products of the farm chemically, but let there be 

 in the agricultural college one who can do it, and do it well. 

 It is not expected that every farmer should learn to use the 

 microscope, and to make physiological experiments, but let 

 there be in the land, in some institution at least, one man 

 who knows how these things should be done, and who is 

 placed in a position to do them. This is not the case now. 

 When we have that man, we shall be prepared to talk of im- 

 provements in stock-breeding, not before. 



Adjourned to Thursday, at ten o'clock. 



THIRD DAY. 



Thursday, Dec. 4. 

 The Board met at ten o'clock, a. m.. Col. Eliphalet 

 Stone, of Dedham, in the chair. The first sulrject presented 

 for discussion was a paper on 



THE HUMANE DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS. 



BY PROF. D. D. SLADE, BUSSEY INSTITUTION, HARVAUD UNIVERSITY. 



Mr. Oliairman and Gentlemen: — It is the object of my 

 present paper to give instruction to those who desire to ter- 

 minate the existence of animals in the most speedy and hu- 

 mane manner, whether such animals are intended for food, 

 or wh(;lher they have become useless through age, sickness, 

 or other cause. When we reflect upon the vast number of 

 animals which are put to death in our own country alone, for 

 food, — a number .estimated at more than fifty millions every 

 year, not to speak of the thousands that are destroyed for 



