CHAP. in. . "POINTS" OF CATTLE. 99 



Mr. Bruce, in introducing the system which he advocates, and 

 which we shall presently allude to, draws pointed attention to the 

 defects of the present method. We have already adverted to the 

 fact that animals vary in the points of excellence or defect which 

 they possess. Thus, as Mr. Bruce remarks, one animal may be 

 valuable or high in "quality," but it may be defective in "form;" 

 or while good in some points of form which indicate value, it may be 

 as noteworthy for having other points of form which indicate the 

 reverse ; or it may be good both in form and in quality, and yet 

 defective in vigour and size. Now, judges " being," as one of them 

 once remarked, " but men," have like other men their prejudices, 

 fancies, or predilections, one arguing for one point, another for another. 

 Hence, in judging, more especially where the animals are numerous, 

 the practice virtually is a species of summing up, or counterbalancing 

 of the one point of an animal against another, in order to arrive at a 

 conclusion, which, being a species of " average decision," will be as fair 

 as it can possibly be made to the exhibitor of the animal in question. 

 If one judge alone was employed at shows, even this system would be 

 unsatisfactory ; but where there are, as is usual, two or three, it is 

 worse. The result often is that the best talker gains the day, or the 

 most determined in standing out, or else lots must be cast as to which 

 of the three decisions is the one to be made public. 



Another defect of the system is the hurry of the examination. On 

 this point we have only to ask anyone to compare the difference 

 between the style of a man who is examining an animal in order to 

 purchase it for himself with that gone through at a show, to convince 

 him that, where so little time is given to a work which all admit to be 

 one requiring great deliberation and care, such work cannot be done 

 well. We have alluded to the prejudices of judges indeed, of all 

 who are concerned with stock as to certain "points " as placed against 

 other points in an animal ; but there is one prejudice well known to 

 exist amongst these judges, and that is in favour of one or another class 

 or strain or " breed " of animal. With some, if the animal is not of 

 their breed, no matter how good it is, it stands a poor chance of gaining 

 a favourable decision. All who know anything of stock, know what is 

 meant by a " Booth man," or a " Bates man," and of the strength 

 of the prejudices which these terms conve} 7 . l 



But we come to a far more important defect of the present system, 

 as pointed out by Mr. Bruce ; important, inasmuch as it affects the 

 whole question of the improvement of the breeds of cattle throughout 

 the country. The difficulties attendant upon the gaining of a know- 

 ledge of stock are known, but not so well known, perhaps, as they 

 should be. Such being the case, it would be satisfactory to know the 

 opinions of the judges, setting forth authoritatively the points in which 

 the prize-winning animals excelled: the " reasons why," in short, the 

 awards were made as they were. By this means an " authoritative 

 record of those points would be created ; " and, further, breeders would 

 be directed, " who are looking for stock to improve their herds in 



1 See " Thomas Bates and the Kirklevington Shorthorns." By Cadwallader John Bates. 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne : Robert Redpath. 1897. 



