No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 619 



Our law makes provision for a special certificate of approval to 

 be awarded after the French custom to horses of superior type, 

 conformation and breeding. We have received a number of appli- 

 cations for these special certificates, but as yet none have been 

 awarded for the reason that a system of making these awards, which 

 of necessity must be uniform has not been satisfactorily worked 

 out. It is proposed to organized in the various counties or breeding 

 districts, stallion parade associations whose main object shall be 

 the holding of an annual exhibition of all breeding horses in that 

 locality. This would result in all eligible horses being centralized 

 at a given point when the award of a special certificate of approval 

 could be conveniently made. The judges, however, who are to 

 make the awards should adhere to a uniformly high standard of 

 excellence in order that these certificates may have the same sig- 

 nificance no matter where secured. The ideal system would be that 

 which admitted of all aw^ards being made by a commission appoint- 

 ed for that purpose, however, since the territory to be covered is 

 so great and the funds available for this work so limited, such a 

 system does not seem possible at this time. In Canada where these 

 shows have been held with marked success two judges, one a vet- 

 erinarian, are appointed in each district. 



The objection may be raised, that such a plan would necessitate 

 taking the horses a long way from home thereby imposing some 

 expense upon the owners; but this very thing would have the de- 

 sirable effect in that result in only those horses which were very 

 certain to receive recognition being presented for the special awards. 

 It has worked well in other countries and as much may be expected 

 of it here. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, I would like to ask your co-operation in 

 the administration of this State stallion law. Consider its intent 

 rather than the present form which is subject to modification, as 

 suggested by you, at each subsequent meeting of the legislature. 

 The first step necessary in the enforcement of this act is to reach 

 every stallion owner in the State with notification of its existence 

 and his obligations to it. In many cases it is then necessary to 

 explain more in detail some of the provisions of the act which may 

 not be well understood. In both of these essential steps you mem- 

 bers of the Pennsylvania Livestock Breeders' Association can by 

 your co-operation aid materially in securing the results which it 

 is hoped to attain and it is with that fact in view that this matter 

 has been discussed before vou todav. 



SOME THINGS IN DAIRY FARMING. 



By HON. W. D. HOARD, Fort Atkinson, Wis., Editor of Hoard's Dairyman. 



What does it mean to be a dairy farmer of today? This is a very 

 important question to everyone down the long line of men who make 

 up this great daivj industry. There is no man in that line who is as 

 important to the industry, as the farmer back on the farm. On him 

 must rest nearly every important consideration; the quantity of the 

 product, the quality of it, for here he governs completely, the sta- 

 bility of it for if he finds it unprofitable the whole line wavers and is 

 thrown into confusion. It is his honor, conscience, intelligence and 

 watchful care that determines the quality of all the products of the 



