24 



(35-) The Leg should be short, straight, wide set, clean, and well 

 proportioned ; and under the Knee and Gambril it should be 

 moderately fine and sinewy. Value, 10 marks. 



(36.) The Hoof should be clean, short, and well proportioned. Value, 

 5 marks. 



V. IMPEDIMENTS TO ADOPTION OF POINT SYSTEM 

 AND THEIR REMOVAL. 



Although a clear and unassailable case is here made out in favour of 

 the point system, there are but too good grounds for believing that con- 

 siderable delay may still occur in its initiation, as there are many, though 

 easily removable, impediments in the way of its adoption by the principal 

 agricultural societies. We will here therefore briefly notice some of the 

 more prominent of these impediments, and show how they can be 

 removed. They are, 



(i). The novelty of the system. The effect of this impediment on 

 all classes of the community, and especially on those interested 

 in the alterations which the proposed system would entail, in 

 delaying the introduction of improvements, is too well known 

 to be for a moment questioned. It is, however, one that will 

 speedily disappear with the discussion of the subject, and its 

 advocates will require to see that its various advantages are 

 kept continually and prominently before stockowners and the 

 public. 



(2). Its apparent intricacy. Looking at the array of figures and the 

 minuteness with which the judging is gone into, the point system, 

 at first sight, appears complicated and difficult, and is certain to 

 frighten all those breeders and judges and they are the majority 

 who look but superficially into such matters. The intricacy, 

 however, to a judge, is only apparent ; and the merest trial of 

 the point system on a few head of his own or his neighbour's 

 cattle would soon convince him that it is not only easily under- 

 stood, but can be readily and correctly applied. 



(3). 2 he dislike on the part of thorough judges to go into detail. A first- 

 class judge, who very naturally prides himself on the quickness 

 with which he can discern the good and bad qualities of an 

 animal, and who does so at a glance, does not like to be obliged 

 to go minutely over the last leet of exhibits in a class, and judge 

 point by point. He would be apt to think that he was, in 

 this way, being sent back to the very ABC of his calling, and it 

 is only natural that he should at first object to judge in any such 

 fashion. When, however, he is made to understand the extent 

 of the benefits he would confer on stockowners and the society 

 requiring his services by judging in this way, there is not the 

 least doubt but that, in nine cases out of ten, he would readily 

 consent to do so. 



