136 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



choicer individuals. After the short leet is selected, the 

 other group is usually sent to the stalls. In most compara- 

 tive rings, it is not difficult to find quickly the best animal; 

 but as one deals with the stock farther down the line, it 

 becomes necessary to decide on the relative demerits rather 

 than the merits of each, and to place highest those that show 

 the fewest undesirable features, a matter in which judges 

 sometimes differ quite a bit. Naturally we do not all see 

 things alike; and so the judge who does his work carefully 

 and comes to a decision independently of the views of others, 

 is assuming his responsibility in the right way. 



Keeping notes on animals under comparison is a very 

 good plan. It is customary in classes of stock judged by 

 students to give each animal a number or letter. These 

 marks may be written on common gummed paper labels, and 

 stuck on the rumps of horses or cattle, on the tops of the 

 heads of sheep, and on the backs of hogs. Then on a small 

 card or folded slip of paper one may give space to each ani- 

 mal under its number, and make brief notes of certain fea- 

 tures of importance. These notes are often instructive and 

 suggestive, and aid the young judge in keeping things in 

 mind. In the student's judging contests of to-day, the boys 

 are allowed to take notes in this way and use them for 

 reference up to the time of appearing before the judges to 

 give their reasons. 



In discussing an animal being judged, it is desirable to 

 do so briefly and clearly, emphasizing the important things, 

 such as character, general conformation, quality, back, body 

 capacity, chest development, or hind quarters. Much, of 

 course, will depend on the special case in hand. Then, if one 

 is describing an animal, or is comparing two or more, the 

 frequent use of such expressions as "he has a good back," 

 or "she has the best quality," are to be discouraged. The 

 words good or best in these cases really convey no specific 

 information. Instead, if one says, "He has a long, wide, 



