THE STUDY OF FORM AND FUNCTION 13 



clear to both exhibitor and spectator that he knows wlwl 

 he is about, and that his decisions are not based on guess- 

 work. This method is educational in value, and is to be 

 commended, and should be a feature of all shows where- 

 ever possible. The reasons for the judge's decisions are 

 usually listened to with much interest by the exhibitors 

 and visitors at the ring side. The only persons liable to 

 take exception to this method, are exhibitors who do not 

 feel satisfied with the decisions of the judge, and who do 

 not enjoy having attention directed to the defects which 

 may have been the cause of the subordinate position given 

 their animals. 



Competent live stock critics or judges in a community 

 are an evidence of the presence of superior live stock there- 

 abouts. Qualified critics usually seek for superior rather 

 than inferior animals. One may be reasonably sure that 

 in a locality where many good herds and flocks are to be 

 found, will also be found a class of stockmen who dis- 

 criminate wisely in their selections. This being so, then 

 from an economic point of view, it is distinctly desirable 

 to have educated men in the community who will under- 

 stand the relationship of form to function, and who will 

 know how to apply their knowledge in a practical way. 

 This knowledge applied, will result in attractive herds, in 

 a community reputation of an enviable sort, and in fre- 

 quent visits of stockmen who will come to purchase and 

 who will pay superior rather than inferior prices. Such a 

 condition will surely cause prosperity, but it cannot be 

 accomplished excepting on the principle that superior 

 herds can only be produced by superior judges of animal 

 form and production. Hence, the worth of the educated 

 judge and his help to a community. 



The demand for expert judges of live stock is very 

 widespread. There are thousands of local fairs in America 

 where animals are exhibited to be judged. There are 

 also large state fairs and live stock expositions, where se- 

 vere competitions commonly take place. The live stock in 



