98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The comparative system would not reveal the imperfec- 

 tions in flavor or fibre to the looker-on, or to the exhibitors, 

 unless all became tasters and tryers. One man finds his 

 fruit cut in flavor and fibre, and at once the su2:2:estion comes 

 that pruning and cultivation and fertilization are necessary, 

 that next year's crop may ])e improved. 



How was it with the forty or more samples of butter at 

 your last exhibition, all put up in attractive form and passed 

 upon by a discriminating committee, who placed the honors 

 where they honestly belonged? Did you who won ever 

 know why your product was preferred to others, or you who 

 failed why you did not win ? 



Was it flavor or texture, color, or method of salting and 

 putting up which determined ? What possible benefit can 

 it be to you, either as winners or losers, unless you know 

 the reasons? What incentive to improve when only the 

 ribbons tell the story of preference ? 



Every card giving the detailed score, returned to the indi- 

 vidual exhibitor, becomes a promoter of better practices, and 

 an incentive to improvement — an educator. 



Suppose some tidy housewife returned without a ribbon 

 or a card telling of honors won, l3ut on the score-card a de- 

 cided cut in flavor, and at the foot a note, " decided barn 

 flavor," a record possible in far too many cases. Think you 

 she will rest until the cobwebs are swept from the tie-ups, 

 floors made clean, cows groomed and bedding applied? The 

 reflection on her skill caused liy the slovenly practices at the 

 barn will lead to decisive action and better outside condi- 

 tions. 



Show a man that the present mating of his mare is giving 

 a heavy-headed class of colts, and the thought of a change 

 will impress itself immediately. You cannot demonstrate 

 that under the comparative system, and the fact that the 

 mare is from a producing family, and the stallion used from 

 another, is too often accepted as proof positive of value in 

 the off^spring, regardless of individual merit. 



Only by a study of parts and a knowledge of the purpose 

 of each, together with a high ideal of perfection, can the bad 

 practices of present hobby-riding breeding be broken up. It 

 has been the blind leading the blind which has filled our barns 



