THE STUDY OF FORM AND FUNCTION H 



ors believe that the breeds shown by them should be 

 judged only by practical breeders of these respective 

 breeds. Occasionally a breed association will urge fair or 

 live stock show officials to appoint a certain man for judge, 

 on account of his reputation as a breeder and judge of that 

 breed. Some stockmen are very reluctant to show, where 

 their exhibit is to be judged by one associated with another 

 breed. For example : a Poland China breeder does not 

 care to have his stock judged by a Berkshire man, neither 

 does an exhibitor of Percherons wish his stock to be rated 

 by a specialist in Clydesdales, and very few men showing 

 Merino sheep would care to have a Cotswold breeder 

 serve as judge on their fine wools. This represents a very 

 common opinion among professional stockmen. During 

 recent years, or since the animal husbandry departments 

 of our colleges have been established, instructors in this 

 field have in many cases been acceptable judges at live stock 

 shows. These instructors are, as a rule, free from preju- 

 dice, and are often regarded as capable of passing fairly 

 and intelligently on several different types and breeds. 

 However, such a specialist as a rule has a reputation for 

 proficiency in judging some one type or class, and does not 

 willingly officiate otherwise, unless under unusual cir- 

 cumstances. If then the demand is for the judge in the 

 special rather than the general field, it behooves the amateur 

 judge to concentrate his efforts to become a proficient 

 specialist. Contact with a breed on all possible occasions, 

 and cultivating the acquaintance and friendship of breed- 

 ers and herdsmen, will add greatly to a student's store of 

 knowledge and render him more and more efficient. If 

 one who is also gifted with a reasonably good judicial tem- 

 perament, will persistently adhere to this plan, he should 

 become in time a judge of signal ability and more than 

 local reputation. 



The decision of the judge should be reached after care- 

 ful consideration, and should be final. He should be well 

 fortified in his reasons, and being so, should not feel doubt- 



