2^ MASSACnUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



THE STOCK ON OUIl FARMS 



From an Address before the Worcester Xorth Agricultural Society. 



BY GEORGK B. LOKING. 



The siil)j ligation of the animal kingdom to the wants and lux- 

 uries of man, constitutes one of the most interesting chapters in 

 the history of practical human advancement. In the beginning, 

 man was created " to have dominion over the fish of the sea, 

 and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle ;" and when 

 by his " first disobedience " he was obliged to resign the enjoy- 

 ment of reaping the spontaneous productions of the earth, for 

 an unequal contest with thorns and thistles, no decree went 

 forth to release the " beasts of the field " from their predestined 

 bondage. The " bleating flocks " which welcomed the dawn of 

 creation, were sacrificed to furnish the two first human sinners 

 with " coats of skins," after their expulsion from Eden, into 

 the chilling influences of the outer world ; and we are told that 

 the second born on the face of the earth, occupied those prime- 

 val hours, amid new and oriental luxuriance, as a "keeper of 

 sheep." 



From that day to this, the production and care of animals 

 adapted to human wants has been one of the most important 

 branches of husbandry. We have no means of judging of the 

 quality of Abel's sheep, " of the firstlings of his flock, and of 

 the fat thereof." We only learn of Jacob's herds that they were 

 " ring-streaked and speckled." And amidst all the elevation of 

 Taurus the Bull into the heavenly constellations, of Apis into 

 the catalogue of heathen deities ; amidst the poetic fancies which 

 created the white bull of Europa, and adorned the ancient 

 gate-ways and arches with the gaunt forms of stately oxen, 

 and gave the name Boopis (ox-eyed) to the fairest goddess, and 

 filled the classic song of Virgil with the voices of thronging 



