348 AGRICULTURE 



meats can be kept at a temperature below freezing for 

 months at a time. Much of the meat that is now used on 

 the farms is first shipped to the city packing houses for 

 slaughter, and then bought back from retail dealers as 

 needed, in the form of bacon, ham, canned or dried beef, 

 or as fresh meats shipped in refrigerator cars. Many small 

 towns also have their local slaughter-houses, where animals 

 purchased from the farms are killed for home consumption. 



Other food products from animals. The other food 

 products from animal life, such as milk, butter, eggs and 

 cheese, are even more important. Milk and eggs contain 

 more of the different food elements needed by the human 

 body than any other foods; and butter is as necessary as 

 meat. 



The dairy and poultry industries are therefore among the 

 most important enterprises connected with agriculture. Milk 

 and butter are shipped to the cities in refrigerator cars or 

 special trains. Hundreds of creameries are operated to save 

 time for the farmer and insure him greater profit. Many train 

 loads of eggs and butter are collected during the summer 

 months and put in cold storage and kept for the winter 

 supply. 



3. Other Animal Products 



The farm animals are useful in other ways than doing 

 work and providing food for man. Many practical neces- 

 sities are supplied by them. 



Leather. The skins of all the common farm animals 

 are saved for leather. Cattle, horses, sheep and even pigs, 

 contribute to the making of our shoes, gloves, mittens, har- 

 nesses, saddles, cushions and many other articles in com- 

 mon use. 



Wool. Sheep furnish one of the most valuable cloth- 

 ing materials known, Many sheep ranches are maintained 



