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(4). The natural disinclination on the part oj breeders and judges to 

 study and master the principles and details of the system. The 

 failing here noticed is common to the members of every calling 

 or profession, but especially so to owners and breeders, and this, 

 no doubt, arises from the fact that their turn of mind is far more 

 practical than theoretical. The same causes as would lead to 

 removal of impediment No. 3, would tend to the removal of this ; 

 and 



(5). The want of information with respect to the advantages of the 

 system. These advantages have not as yet been so fully 

 brought under the notice of stockowners and judges as 

 they ought to have been. If one tithe of the advantages 

 which are claimed for this system can be secured, and 

 there is no doubt but that they can all be so it is impos- 

 sible to conceive that the impediments which now exist to its 

 introduction can continue, for our judges are too large-minded, 

 and have the good of the class to which they belong too much 

 at heart to allow their prejudices and the objections here 

 noticed are little else or even their own loss of time or incon- 

 venience to stand in the way of such a valuable improvement in 

 the present mode of judging. 



Although these impediments to the introduction of the point system 

 ^xist, it will be seen from what has been said that they can one 

 and all be easily overcome. If, therefore, the point system be 

 practicable, and that has been fully established by actual experience 

 in almost every country under the sun, the objections which have been 

 noticed as now existing among breeders and judges to that system, 

 ought not for a single moment to stand in the way of its adoption by 

 the principal agricultural societies : For, without desiring to detract in 

 the least from the acknowledged skill and ability of the judges at our 

 Exhihitions and principal shows, who ^would for such reasons as those 

 now given object to judge by points, and fully acknowledging the pains 

 and time they bestow in their endeavours to do equal justice to all the 

 exhibitors, we must bear in mind that there are many things judges 

 would do, and many they would not do, if they were not bound by the 

 regulations of the societies for which they are acting, and that the 

 chief consideration is not what they would like, but what is practicable 

 and what would be for the advantage of stockowners and these societies. 

 Looking, therefore, at the question as to the best mode of judging in 

 this light, it is plain that that of judging by points is one of those things, 

 and that as the point system would be highly advantageous in these 

 respects, it ought to be adopted, although even a majority of the judges 

 might at first prefer to judge as they do at present. 



