IMPROVING OUR SOCIETY. 12T 



No one can be a good judge of any breed of animals, unless 

 he is well acquainted with a large number of herds throughout 

 the country, and has carefully studied the characteristic points 

 of both imported and home-bred animals of note. I really be- 

 lieve there are but few persons in this county, or this State even, 

 who know what the pedigree of a thoroughbred animal should 

 be, judging from my experience in examining the animals, and 

 conversing with many farmers, at our largest fairs, both in this 

 State and New York. 



To be a thoroughbred of any breed, an animal must have an 

 authentic pedigree showing that it has no blood in its veins ex- 

 cept that which has come from animals raised in the country 

 where such breed originated, or that which has come from ani- 

 mals having such authentic pedigree. 



Any animal that has not such a pedigree is simply a Native 

 or Grade, and should be entered as such ; and unless this society 

 enforces its present rule, which requires competitors to give ped- 

 igree, and requests committees to be particular in this respect, 

 it is useless to offer such a long list of premiums for thorough- 

 bred animals. As long as committees on thoroughbred cattle 

 are appointed who know little or nothing about that of which 

 they are to judge, I would advise all owners of thoroughbred 

 stock to withhold their animals from entry for premiums, and not 

 trust them in the hands of incompetent committees. If a good 

 system cannot be otherwise brought about, this is the best and 

 quickest way it can be done. But without resorting to such 

 a radical method, it can be much better brought about by the 

 trustees of the society giving the matter that consideration 

 which it deserves, and remedying the fault at once. 



With an ample premium list, and competent and unpreju- 

 diced judges, carefully appointed, we shall in this particular have 

 all any one can wish, and if other much needed improvements 

 are also carried out, a most excellent show must be the result. 

 In a comparatively small community there are but very few 

 persons who can be unprejudiced judges of another person's 

 property, where such property is owned in small quantity 

 throughout such community — as for example, thoroughbred cat- 

 tle in Essex County ; but where property is extensively owned 

 in large quantities, theie are many persons who are competent 



