2 • EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Chicago's popiilalion. TIumi (here is the dressed-carcass exhibit, 

 Avhich is instructive to those who have studied the live animals and 

 their rating. Unfortunately this exhibit is seen by only a few people, 

 owing to its inaccessibility. One who attends the show for the first 

 time must make many inquiries and sul)mit to othei- inconveniences 

 in order to view it. There would seem to be opportunity for improve-, 

 ment in this respect. 



The influence on the improvement of live stock which results from 

 the rivalrv of public exhibitions is apparent in (he changes in animal 

 types wherever such exhibitions have been held. The fat stock show 

 had its origin in Great Britain, in connection with fairs where stock 

 had been assembled at convenient centers for j)urposes of sale. 

 Eventually breeders often claimed in advance that they would have 

 for sale the best individual animals or herds, and backed their claims 

 by offering money stakes. A judge would be appointed and the 

 verdict given at the fair. 



For a long time these fairs were local, but they became of general 

 interest toward the latter half of the eighteenth century. The results 

 of these and other similar events, like the Holkham and Woburn 

 sheep shearings, Avere known far and wide. On the organization of 

 the Smithfield Club one hundred and eleven years ago, the fat stock 

 show^ became a national event, and led to the improvement of live 

 stock in Great Britain as in no other country. The showing of the 

 fat stock is preliminary to the sale, so that the practical element is 

 kept constantly in view. The possibilities of early maturity is one 

 of the more important lessons which have been learned from the fat 

 stock shows. The improvement of the breeding classes is a more 

 difficult problem, but even here the influence of the exhibitions, like 

 those of the Smithfield Club and the International, may be seen by 

 referring to the types of ten years ago. 



One ver}^ important influence of the International has been in con- 

 nection w ith the agricultural colleges, especially of the central West. 

 These institutions have been conspicuous in the show ring and on the 

 list of judges. Their success in training and supplying expert judges, 

 and in feeding animals for exhibition, has revealed their practical 

 character and the practical value of their courses. 



The International has been a common meeting ground for practical 

 stockmen and the alleged theorists of the agricultural colleges. It 

 has been a potent agency in popularizing the colleges and winning 

 the respect and confidence of practical men. At first practical 

 breeders and feeders w^ere skeptical, and held that the professors of 

 agriculture could theorize but were unable to put their theories into 

 practice. It w^as time for the professor of agriculture to show what 

 he could do, and he has " made good." He has gone into the open 

 market, bought, bred, fed and fitted for the show animals that have 



