13 



the best animal. Or, putting the matter in another shape, it is absurd 

 to say that a person can form a correct estimate of some 40 or 50 

 points in a lump, and not be able to do so with respect to each point 

 taken singly. It is granted that the judges would at first find some 

 difficulty in allotting the proper number of marks for the various 

 points of the different animals, but this would only be felt at the very 

 commencement If they were careful at the beginning to fix a fair 

 standard of excellence for each point, and to allot the correct number 

 of marks to the first animal, they would have no difficulty whatever in 

 dealing fairly with all the exhibits brought before them, and giving 

 thoroughly correct awards. It would of course in this, as in every- 

 thing else, require a little practice on the part of the judges to get 

 through their work expeditiously and accurately, but a very little a 

 few hours at the most would enable them to do so. It is, however, 

 scarcely necessary to argue this point, for we find that stock of all 



- are now judged by points on the Continent, in the United States,* 

 and in some cases even in Great Britain, and that too under a 

 system far more difficult to carry out than here suggested. 



The second objection is that " there would not be time to judge 

 the stock by points." This objection is also more apparent than 

 real ; for it is only when new to the work that the judges would 

 take longer to judge by the point system than by the present ; and 

 in the initiation of the proposed system two sets of judges might be 

 appointed to each section, one set taking the males and the other the 

 females. If there were any scarcity of judges, each set might con- 

 sist of two, as a third man could, where the two judges in one set dis- 

 agreed, be taken from the other. When, however, the judges 

 had obtained a little experience in the new system, the two sets 

 would not be necessary, as they would then get through the work as 

 quickly under the point system as under the present. It is true 

 that there may be a few classes in the show, where the exhibits are 

 comparatively easily placed, and where the judges would, under the 

 present system, get quickly over their work ; but as a rule, at meetings- 

 like our Metropolitan Exhibition, the stock in most of the classes are so 

 numerous, and so much on a par one with the other, that it takes the 

 judges if not for the first, at any rate for the second, third, and 

 fourth places a very considerable time, and no little discussion 

 among themselves, to allot each animal its proper place. Long, 

 therefore, before the judges could possibly discuss, as they now do r 

 the merits of the five or six animals remaining in the leet, and 

 agree as to their relative positions, they would, far more harmo- 

 niously, and not unfrequently more correctly, put each animal into 



proper place by the point system. Even under that system a 



discussion might arise among the judges as to which of the animals 



best in a particular point or group of points; but such a dis- 



* See Scale of Shorthorn Points in Appendix E, used at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876. 



