100 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



reduction in number of exhibitors must be prevented. No 

 society has performed its task until every farmer within its 

 limits is a regular contributor to the yearly exhibitions. 

 Let every one be assured that the scale of points is to be 

 applied to every exhibit, that each is to be measured by 

 itself independently of all others, and that the score in eveiy 

 case is to be returned to the exhibitor, and the last barrier 

 to a complete exhibition will disappear. 



The objections raised against employing experts, or put- 

 ting the work of awarding the honors in any class into the 

 hands of a single individual, hold only in the imagination 

 of the objector. 



The task of judging by the scale of points is less arduous 

 than l)y the old system. Having the card in hand, the judge 

 attaches value to each part independently of all others, the 

 total footing to determine the awards. Thus when one part 

 has been passed and the record made, it should drop out of 

 mind. 



One thought should here be emphasized. If the credit 

 against any section is less than the full amount given for per- 

 fection, the reasons for making the cut should be indicated 

 either l)y checking that part or writing in the cause. Thus 

 in the card for the horse, it reads ; "Chest deep, full and 

 prominent, good width," the standard being three points. 

 If narrow, and the credit is one and one-half, the judge 

 should underscore the words " good width," and then write 

 in the word " narrow." Thus in every part care should be 

 taken to make plain the causes for any reduction of credits. 



It is this, and this only, which ^vi\\ fully make clear the 

 work of the experts in the butter room yonder. For every 

 cut for defect the full reason should be written on the card. 

 If a sample of butter is too salt, instead of cutting for this 

 the card should indicate that there is an excess. If the text- 

 ure of a sample is imperfect, it should indicate what the 

 texture is, and what it should be, in order that the man who 

 made it may know just what the trouble is, and how to rem- 

 edy the same ; not that it fails in being up to the standard 

 of perfection, but just in what way it fails. 



I make this plea for systematic work in awarding pre- 

 miums, and for extended and critical supervision by the 



