PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 353 



should bear this in mind. The Standard is supreme law, first, 

 last and all the time. The breeder, exhibitor or judge who 

 fails to recognize it as such destroys whatever chances he may 

 have to make good. 



Judging by the Standard. The American Standard of Per- 

 fection being the law, as well as the guide, for the poultry 

 judge, he must be thoroughly posted on its requirements be- 

 fore attempting to adjudicate in any classes at a poultry exhi- 

 bition. A thorough study of the rules which govern judging 

 is of the greatest importance, as more protests against awards 

 are based on the failure to observe these rules than on errors of 

 judgment. Never overlook a disqualificaiton of any kind, no 

 matter how trivial it may be, or how much the mind rebels 

 against throwing out a surpassingly fine bird. The judge sim- 

 ply has to do it or invite protest. The Standard may seem 

 wrong to him, but that should make no difference, as all the 

 specimens entered in his classes have, or should have, been 

 selected by the exhibitors according to the same Standard. 

 The judge has no right to disregard any of its rules if he de- 

 sires to remain in good standing in his profession. 



Another important point, however, and one that must never 

 be overlooked is : The Standard permits the judge to give 

 the benefit of any doubt he may have in his mind to the bird. 

 A superior specimen, the best in its class, may have some 

 defect so near to the disqualifying limit that an over-zealous 

 judge will exercise arbitrary powers and disqualify the bird. 

 This is placing a radical or literal construction on the laws 

 laid down by the Standard certainly not intended by its fram- 

 ers. A judge must exercise his common sense in interpreting 

 all such laws. To throw out the gem in any class because a 

 pinhead spot of black or red appears in a white feather is both 

 suicidal to the breed or variety and the judge. 



Lastly, a judge should follow Davy Crockett's advice 

 "Be sure you're right, then go ahead" when judging poultry 

 at exhibitions. Under any circumstances he must make his 

 decisions without fear or favor and care naught for what 

 exhibitors may say. A judge is an individual having but one 

 opinion. That one he should adhere to. Others may have 

 different .ones, but that need not influence him in the least. 

 It is, however, his duty toward exhibitors that may be pres- 

 ent and who courteously ask him for explanations of his awards 

 to satisfy them. It is well to remember that many exhibitors 

 are as well posted on the merits of the birds entered at the 



