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the opinions of the judges. It can easily be seen that these measure- 

 ments would be of great assistance to the judges, and save them a great 

 deal of time, whether the judging be carried out by points or not ; for 

 judges are almost certain to differ as to the height, length, or girth of 

 many of the animals, and not unfrequently make mistakes with respect 

 to them, which the use of the tape would enable them to avoid. The 

 measurements which it is proposed to take are the following : 



(1) The animal's height, measureing from the ground to the top of 



its crops. 



(2) The length from the crown of the shoulder-blade to the hinder- 

 most part of the rump ; gaudiness, of course, being omitted. 



(3) The girth at the heart. 



It would not occupy much time to make these measurements ; 

 and, as the owners would be aware that they would be taken, they 

 would be careful to measure their animals before they left home. 

 They would thus be in a position to check the stewards, and bring the 

 matter before the committee, should any mistake occur. 



Although, however, these measurements would be of very great 

 assistance to the judges, there would still be plenty of scope for the 

 exercise of their knowledge and skill ; and it would, of course, be dis- 

 tinctly understood that the taking of them in no way interfered with the 

 legitimate powers of the judges. 



2. Additional measurements of first prize stock to be taken and recorded. 



-Whether the stock are judged by points or not, it would be very 



useful as well as interesting, if, besides the foregoing measurements, the 



following additional ones of all the first-prize animals were also taken 



and recorded, namely 



(4) The length from the pole to the crown of the shoulder-blade. 



(5) The length from the point of the shoulder bone to the hinder- 



most part of the thigh. 



(6) The width of breast, measuring from one shoulder point to the 



other. 



(7) The girth at the flank. 



(8) The width of the hips or huckles, measuring from the crown of 



one huckle to that of the other. 



(9) The length of quarter, measuring from the crown of the huckle to 

 the true point of the rump. 



(10) The girth of the forearm. 



(n) The girth of the leg immediately above the pastern. 



Further, if the judging of stock is not to be carried out by points, 

 the judges of the principal shows should be asked to give short general 

 descriptions of the first prize animals, for the purpose of their being 

 placed on record along with these measurements. 



