SELECTING AND FITTING THE SHOW HERD 67 



the brush back to the tail head, giving a much more finished ap- 

 pearance to the animal than though this was neglected. The above 

 suggestions properly followed and the bringing of the herd to the 

 shows in a thoroughly docile, well mannered condition, add much 

 to their credit while in the show ring. It is pretty hard for a 

 Judge to properly examine an aged boar or one even younger, 

 if he is brought into the ring with four or five men, each bump- 

 ing him around with a short hurdle the boar certainly is not 

 showing to the best advantage. 



Dressing. A nice dressing to use after the hogs are fitted and 

 in show condition, before entering the ring, is made as follows: 



Take a good quality of cotton seed oil, adding enough wood 

 alcohol to thoroughly cut and make a nice thin easy running 

 dressing. After the hog is thoroughly washed and his skin is 

 clean apply with a brush and rub it in thoroughly. 



One of the most detestable dressings that I have ever come in 

 contact with as judge at the great shows is made of oil and lamp 

 black. The animals, as they come into the show ring, are not only 

 a mass of grease and lamp black, but the attendants are about as 

 badly blacked up as the hogs, and before the judge is half through 

 he is also more or less greased up. I have known of cases where 

 the judge had to send his clothes to be cleaned each night or 

 put on a clean pair of overalls each day. All that is necessary 

 as a dressing is something that will make the hair glossy and 

 yet not be gummy. 



Exercise on the Show Circuit. The good herdsman and care- 

 taker does not lie in bed until late in the morning, but is up early 

 and has his show animals out on the grass somewhere about the 

 fair grounds, and drives them around for an hour until each 

 animal is thoroughly emptied out and has had proper exercise. 



