117 



Ijcllcve tliei'C are but few persons in this county, or this State 

 e^■en, who knoA\' what the pedigree of a thoroughbred animal 

 should be, judging from my experience in examining the ani- 

 mals, and C(»nversiug with many formers, at our largest Fairs, 

 l);)th in this State and in Xew York. 



To be a thoroughbred of any breed, an animal nuist ha\ e an 

 authentic pedigree showing that it has no blood in its veins 

 except that Avhich has come from animals raised in the country 

 where such breed originated, or that Avhich has come from ani- 

 aiials having such authentic 2>edigree. 



^Vny animal . that has not such a pedigree is simply a Native 

 •or Grade, and should be entered as such ; and unless this Soci- 

 otv enforces its present ride, which requires competitors to give 

 pedigree, and requests committees to be particular in this re- 

 spect, it is useless to offer such a long list of premiums for 

 thoroughbred animals. As long as conunittees on thorougbred 

 catlle are appointed avIio know little or nothing about that of 

 Avhich they are to judge, I would advise all owners of thor- 

 oughbred stock to withhold their animals from entiy for pre- 

 miums, and not trust them in the hands of incompetent com- 

 mittees. If a good system cannot be otherwise l)rouglit about, 

 this is the best and quickest way it can be done. But Avithout 

 resorting to such a radical method, it can be much better 

 brought about by the trustees of the Society giving the matter 

 that consideration which it deserves, and remedying the fault 

 at once. 



AVith an ample premium list, and conqietent and unpreju- 

 diced judges carefully appointed, we shall in this particidar 

 have all any one can wish, and if other nuich needed improve- 

 ments are also carried out, a most excellent Show must be the 

 result. In a comparatively small community there are but 

 \ ery few persons avIio can be unprejudiced judges of another 

 person's property, where such property is owned in small quan- 

 tity throughout such community — as for example, thoroughbred 

 cattle in Essex county ; but where prope^-ty is extensively owned 

 in large quantities, there are many persons Avho are competent 



