1910} Live Stock at the Brussels Exhibition. 663 



was room for improvement in the class of information and 

 the style in which it was issued. 



The exacting Continental farmer is accustomed to place 

 more faith in performance than in show "points," and, no 

 matter how impressive the photograph, he will not be induced 

 to invest unless he is satisfied by properly authenticated 

 statistical evidence of the utility and merits of the animal. 

 The eagerness with which the volume of milk records con- 

 tributed by one of the Societies was sought and perused 

 indicated the means by which British breeders can develop 

 a Continental trade. The Continental farmers and breeders 

 are prepared to purchase only such animals as will yield 

 them better returns than they obtain from the breeds they 

 own at present, and it rests with the British breeder to 

 convince them that the live stock of this country is capable, 

 in many ways, of surpassing the Continental breeds. This 

 can be done by laying before them, in an attractive and com- 

 prehensive form, official statistics and authenticated evidence 

 of milk and butter-fat records, early maturity, weight, quality 

 of meat, quality of wool, hardiness, value for cross-breeding 

 and grading up and of the many other points for' which 

 British stock are renowned. 



Another point which should be emphasised in dealing with 

 the foreign buyer is the variety of climate and conditions 

 under which British stock are bred, thus fitting them for 

 movement to any part of the world. 



Above all, the information must be given in the language 

 of the person to whom it is handed. The handbook, " Breeds 

 of British Live Stock," issued by the Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries, is intended to provide a brief general account 

 of each breed, but details such as could not be conveniently 

 incorporated in a single handbook are wanted, and each 

 Breed Society may therefore be recommended to prepare full 

 and accurate record of the qualities, capabilities and per- 

 formances of its breed, and have it published in an attractive 

 form in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, in 

 order that inquirers may take with them to their homes, for 

 full consideration, the information they desire, and which is 

 a necessary preliminary to useful business. 



