HISTOKY OF HEKEFOKD CATTLE 



513 



me, and doubtless will be to the Board, when 

 1 have an opportunity to have it read at the next 

 meeting. The rule of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture at present is to appoint a jury of three 

 veterinarians to pass upon the exhibit, as to the 

 ages of cattle, sheep and hogs competing for 

 fat stock prizes. This rule has proven very 

 satisfactory, and has on several occasions 

 'passed out' an animal for being over age. If 

 you have cuts of the mouths of cattle, sheep 

 and hogs, and would care to loan them, our 

 secretary would, I know, be glad to include 

 them in our Annual Eeport of 1897, the copy 

 of which is about ready for the printer. 



"The progress of the Fair for 1898 is, I be- 

 lieve, beyond your anticipations, and I hope 

 to have the pleasure of seeing you there. 

 "Very truly yours, 



"J. IRVING PEARCE." 



Mr. Pearce showed my letter to ex-President 

 John P. Eeynolds, and from Mr. Eeynolds I 

 received the following, dated March 10, 1898 : 



"468 LaSalle Ave., Chicago. 

 "Mr. T. L. Miller, 



"My Dear Sir : Our mutual friend, J. Irving 

 Pearce, handed me your letter of 18th ult. to 

 him, touching the show of fat stock at the 

 State Fair, with request that I express to you, 

 as I did to him, my approval of your sugges- 

 tions as to the careful determination of the 

 ages of the contesting animals by the examina- 

 tion of their teeth. 



"Your demonstration years ago fully con- 

 vinced me that your position on that question 

 is absolutely correct, and that the adoption of 

 your views by the Board is entirely practicable. 



In no other way does it seem to me possible 

 to insure accuracy as to ages, which fair deal- 

 ing and justice to exhibitors demand. 



"I was under the impression that the speci- 

 mens of teeth illustrating the subject, which 

 you showed us at Springfield, were left in pos- 

 session of the Board and placed in the museum. 

 At least there ought to be a complete series 

 there for comparison on occasion of controversy 

 or differences of opinion among the judges. I 

 suggested to Mr. Pearce that possibly you might 

 be induced to meet the Board at some con- 

 venient time and give them a talk on the sub- 

 ject. I know of none so well informed and 

 prepared to impart the much-needed informa- 

 tion as you are, and hope such opportunity may 

 offer. Very truly yours, 



"JOHN P. REYNOLDS." 



On the 20th of March I received another 

 letter from President Pearce, as follows: 



"Chicago, March 20, 1898. 

 "T. L. Miller, Esq., De Funiak Springs, Fla. 



"Dear Sir : Your good and interesting as 

 well as instructive letter of the 9th came duly 

 to hand. I am glad to know that you keep up 

 your interest in cattle breeding and feeding. 

 You have done more than any one I know to 

 further that interest and do not keep your light 

 under a bushel. I am glad that you or your 

 son are agreeing to furnish me with such in- 

 formation that will enable us to adopt the teeth 

 test. If you can get it to me by the 10th or 

 llth of April I would be glad. Thanking you 

 for your good letter, and hoping we may see 

 you at our next Fair, I am, Yours truly, 

 "J. IKVING PEARCE." 



