THIRH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 447 



means to an end. which is the fixing of a distinct model in the mind of the 

 user of the same. In our class of work we use the score but for a few days, as 

 the continued use of the same makes the student too dependent. He 

 always has the description of each and every part before him at all times. 

 Instead of requiring him to work down his score or the amount he cuts 

 the animal under the various heads, we require him to fill out a blank form, 

 giving reasons for each and every step. This is soon followed up by com- 

 parison work where the score is not used, but blank forms are where the 

 student must place the animals first, second, third and fourth and write 

 fun reasons for doing so. This work is more practical and makes the 

 student much more independent. The score card should never be used 

 in the judging ring, as it is not reliable enough. Different men of equal 

 ability will mark differently on the same animal, while the same judge 

 has been known to vary from four to six points on the same animal at 

 different times. They may all see the same weakness, but the variation 

 comes in the amount to cut — that is, whether half a point, a point or a 

 point and a half, etc. We can educate people to detect defects in animal 

 form, but it is a most difficult task to train men to score these defects the 

 same. The first is all important, the latter is not necessary. 



In concluding I must say that the score card has done a great work 

 and should be credited with such, but it is only a means to an end and 

 has no place in an exhibition ring. 



Mr. Wolfe, in a further discussion of the subject, said the 

 score card had done more for the hog than any other one thing, 

 that it was introduced as a means of education, like text-books 

 in schools. It gave an ideal or model to go by in the production 

 of better animals. He said a long time ago he used to wonder 

 if hogs ever equalled the pictures the artists made of them, but 

 that he had lived long enough to see them even excel. The ideal 

 of today is higher than that of a few years ago. It is the breed- 

 ers' duty to establish a high ideal and breed to it. More definite 

 knowledge and real benefit come from the score card than from 

 any other source. He said the judge in the ring had no use 

 for the score card, but he could not be a capable judge unless he 

 had the exact principles of the score card firmly impressed on his 

 mind. He said the card was faulty in that it did not recognize 

 difference of sex characteristics. 



