772 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



autliorlties, and the superintendents checked up their respective exhibits 

 to know that till packages were present. The superintendent of the 

 department, Mr. Sudendorf, then took charge of the tubs, numbering 

 them in accordance with his record, and removing all tags and marks 

 of identification. They were piled ready for the judges, who were that 

 veteran judge, Mr. Orin Dougias, of Boston; John Mittlestadt, of Chicago; 

 B. D. White, formerly of Minnesota, at that time from Canajoharie, N. Y. 

 In one end of the refrigerator case was a light room where the tempera- 

 ture was a little more moderate than in the storage room. Here the 

 judges worked. The tubs were opened, one at a time, each judge drawing 

 a trier full, examining the same and expressing his opinion. When any 

 difference of opinion was apparent on first expression the differences 

 were discussed and studied until the three agreed on the score which the 

 package wa» entitled to. A clerk recorded the results of their agi'.H^- 

 ment, the package and score card having only the number as a means of 

 identification. When a tub was found that scored above 95 it was set 

 aside for further consideration, this pile being called the "Shake Down." 

 Working in another part of the room was the expert critic, P. H. Keiffer, 

 of Iowa. After the judges were through with a tub of butter the critic 

 took it, examined it together with the entry blank marked with the 

 buttermaker's number only and dictated to his clerk suggestions to the 

 buttermaker for overcoming the faults apparent. It was both gratifying 

 and amazing to the speaker, who had the privilege of seeing the first 

 two scorings, numbering some 450 tubs, and a number of tubs in the 

 later ones scored by the judges and criticised by the critic, to note the 

 remarkable agreement as a rule In their estimate of what the score should 

 be. Time after time tlie critic would say to his clerk, "What did the 

 judges give this one, 9114?" or "941/2?" and rarely was he one half pomt 

 off, time and again hitting it exactly. Again he would remark as he tested 

 a sample, "That must liave so and so's starter in it," and the clerk 

 would look at the entry Itlank to find that the critic was correct. There 

 was absolutely no room for partiality nor any unfairness of any kind. 



After all of the tubs had been gone through the judges came to the 

 "Shake Down." At this time all disturbing factors, interruptions and 

 visitors were excluded, five or six tubs placed in a row were opened up 

 and one by one. the lowest scoring of these were eliminated as fast as 

 the score was agreed on until finally it narrowed down to four or five 

 "toppers." If in any of the tubs there could be the least distinction made 

 they did not receive the same scoi'e. This Avork required in each case 

 from three to four days to go over some 450 tubs entered each month. 

 Xcitln-r tlic judges nor tlic critic nor even the State superintendents, 

 after they had checked over Ihcir l)utter from the transportation company 

 were able to identify the tubs from their own State, much less that of 

 any Indivldunl. 



