No. 4.] JUDGING BY SCALE OF POINTS. 97 



will make that breeder more critical than would be possible 

 in any other way, you have commenced the work of advanc- 

 ing and promoting. 



At one of our county fairs the editor of a paper came to 

 me and said, "I know nothing about this scale of points. 

 Can you tell me?" I said, "I have not time to tell you, 

 but if you will stand by my side while I am scoring, I think 

 you will understand it." I did not notice that some of the 

 owners were getting around me. I scored a colt, and they 

 brought in a second one. As I glanced over the head I made 

 the remark, " This eye is not as good as the other," and the 

 owner said, " This eye is as good as any in the held ;" stop- 

 ping my work, I asked to have the other colt brought in, 

 and while the man was gone I explained what I would have 

 for an eye if I could form it and its surroundings. The colt 

 was brought in, and when I put the two heads together, and 

 asked the owner to compare eyes, he said, "I am a fool. 

 There's a difference in eyes." Do you not see that I helped 

 that man by giving him a few minutes' time ? 



In all operations two extremes are to be avoided ; both are 

 natural, depending upon the temperament of the breeders, 

 growers, or manufacturers. One is to overlook defects and 

 consider everything produced perfect, and the other to so 

 magnify defects as to lose sight of real value. Both condi- 

 tions are alike injurious to individuals and industries ; both 

 are promoted by the comparative system ; both are remedied 

 by the decimal. 



Perfection in production has never been reached, and 

 never will be. The only incentive to labor lies in the hope 

 of future accomplishments. If the maximum of growth, 

 production, speed or quality had been attained all incentive 

 to improvement would disappear. The scale of points brings 

 out the defects in detail, and while educating to a just dis- 

 crimination of values, indicates what is necessary to every 

 grower, breeder or manufacturer — that is, the weakest spots 

 or parts. 



One lot of apples fails in flavor, another in fibre, another 

 in form, and it is only by placing a fixed value on each item 

 in the scale of points and allowing the sum total to deter- 

 mine the award that all the facts can be brought home to 

 the individual orchardists. 



