THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI. 413 



press and the labors of auctioneers there is less need of fitting stock for 

 the show yard than at an earlier day. To succeed in this way the breeder 

 must also understand the art and value of advertising, which possibly Js 

 as rare a gift as that of excelling as a showman. Bringing one's name 

 and stock to the attention of the public through the show yard implies 

 a heavy outlay of time, feed and labor. It also means outlay in purchase 

 of show animals to supplement those of one's own breeding. 



Fitting and showing a herd lessens its value for legitimate breeding 

 purposes and vastly increases risk of loss by disease contracted on the 

 circuits and brought to the home stock. The absence of the owner of 

 the herd from his family and farm and animals must be considered, and 

 this is hard to estimate in dollars and cents. One must take all these 

 things into consideration along with his chance of making a showing at 

 the fairs that will be a credit. He must make a creditable showing or 

 stay at home. The day is past when one can hope to win without a herd 

 of high excellence and well fitted. One or two good ones may win and 

 be admired, but the uniform excellence of the individuals shown is what 

 tells of the skill and judgment of the breeder. 



The showman who trusts to purchasing his show stock may follow 

 the business a while for the fun of it, but he will find that a costly game 

 which in the end will bring him little reputation as a breeder, but a wide 

 reputation as a plunger. There is need of men who know how to breed 

 and handle a herd from year to year so that their stock bears the stamp 

 of their ideal and of their skill as breeders. When one has proved his 

 skill and can bring forward animals of his own breeding of 

 such excellence as to win a fair share of prizes then we 

 want him to step into the show yard and set an example worthy of imita- 

 tion by all legitimate breeders. The speculating showman who never 

 wins on animals of his own breeding has been about as useful as Barnum 

 or Robinson in stimulating breeders to higher effort and in elevating the 

 standard of pure-bred animals. They may be a help to the show busi- 

 ness, but they are a discouragement to the beginner and the legitimate 

 breeder. 



The inquirer will see that we do not think the path of the showman 

 is strewn with roses or leads inevitably to success. It is beset with hard 

 work and risks and dangers. Each must decide for himself. There is 

 no danger that there will not be plenty of contestants for all liberal 

 prizes fair managers may offer. The trend of things is for better equip- 

 ment of fair grounds and for better accommodations for stockmen and for 

 more liberal prizes." There is all around great need of better apprecia- 

 tion of improved sanitary condition of pens and stables so that the vain 

 able animals brought forward may be safe from contagion and even dis- 

 comfort. Less outlay on showy buildings and greater study and expendi- 

 ture to secure immunity from disease and loss to herds and exhibitors 

 may be considered necessary to make the way to glory for the young 

 beginner less dangerous. 



