PART IV. 



FITTING FOE SHOW. 



A show flock is among the most interesting exhibits found 

 at our state and county fairs, and shows the world over, and to 

 the shepherd and many others it is a fascination. As the writer 

 has often remarked, the fitting of stock for exhibition often 



"Looking Backward." Showyard Scene at the Pan-American Exposition. Photo by 



"Shepherd Boy." 



means a sacrifice of the cream of the flock or herd, but, neverthe- 

 less, were the practice of showing discontinued it would be a source 

 of loss to the livestock industry for the reason that breeders would 

 lose one of their best guides to type. Hence the showyard is a 

 necessary evil. That there are a very large number of animals 

 that do valuable service in the breeding pens, after going through 

 a successful tour of the shows, is above question, but such have 

 been handled by skillful hands who do not permit of their charges 

 forming too close an acquaintance with the grain bin. Our best 

 authorities agree that when an animal is in the height of show- 



