matter much thought, Robert Bakewell began the work of improving the 

 farm animals of his locality, in the county of Leicester. Horses, cattle 

 and sheep he resolved to improve to a higher standard of excellence. 

 His neighbors laughed at him, but he was not diverted from his self- 

 assumed task. For years he worked at his problems, and finally he 

 placed before the admiring world the improved English cart horse, Long- 

 Horn cattle and Leicester sheep. Then Bakewell was honored, even be- 

 yond the shores of Britain, and in later days he became known as "the 

 father of improved live stock husbandry." 



What led to Bakewell's success? 



A natural love for animals The faculty of observation. An ambi- 

 tion to improve that which he thought was inferior. The use of better 

 methdds. Persistency of purpose. 



Are not all these qualities found to some degree in you ? Do not the 

 boys and girls of the farm, more often than not, love the animals with 

 which they come in contact ? How can this love be turned to account as 

 a means of education in one direction, and animal betterment in another ? 



Let us see ! Robert Bakewell, as one engaged in caring for and improv- 

 ing tarm animals, believed in three things: 



(1) Stabling or shelter ; 



(2) Proper feeding and watering ; and 



(3) Gentle treatment. 



Have you ever thought what a highly developed being the improved 

 farm animal of to-day is? Did he not once run wild and independent? 

 Has not the will of man greatly improved the horse, ox, cow and pig since 

 the days when they roamed wild ? Seventy-five years ago the fastest 

 horses could hardly race a mile in three minutes. Do you know what 

 the fastest record is to day ? Where cattle run wild they produce only 

 enough milk to raise their calves on. How much milk has the best cow 

 you have ever heard of given in a year ? In some parts of the country, 

 where the pigs run wild and have no care, they are so thin and have such 

 long legs that they call them " razor backs," and they can almost outrun 

 the fastest dogs. How do the best looking pigs that you see on our farms 

 and at our Fjiirs look, compared with a "razor back"? 



Yfs, it is true, the farm animal of tu-day is an artiiicial one, composed 

 of either nerves, muscle, meat or wool, and over which man has a won- 

 derful power, if he but knew it Once shelter and care would huve be^n 

 an injury; miw is more frequpnily a neces-ity. And so you ^h'uld know 

 the real necessity of tiiviug farm animals the care that humauit}' and 

 economy make des rable. 



Would it not be well to look into the ne^ essity of these things? Sup- 

 po-^e we consider some ))hases of the lives of farm animals that we miuht 

 give attention to, and thereby add to the comfort of dumb beasts, while 

 adding to our own knowledge ot life. 



Stablinij or Shelter. All animals require protection from the changes of 

 weather or other conditions to a greater or less extent. In the severe 



