.JUDGING SHEEP IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 
25 
Comparative judging. — (Fig. 23.) Kepeated practice with the 
score card should be but preliminary to the method used in the 
show ring, that of comparison and placing according to merit. The 
student who has used the score card carefully with a number of sheep 
should be prepared to take in the general conformation and detect 
the details which indicate the worth of the animal. In trying out 
the judgment of the students in comparative judging, it is well to 
select for the first practice four sheep of marked difference in impor- 
tant characters. As skill is developed animals more nearly equal may 
be chosen. Each animal should be numbered or lettered and the stu- 
Fig. 18. — Examining the leg of mutton with both hands. 
dents given a brief time in which to place them according to their rela- 
tive merit with respect to such important general characteristics as con- 
stitution, market condition, or condition of fleece. After they have 
placed them according to judgment from one point of view they 
should then place them with all characteristics considered. Time 
equal to that given for the final placing should be given for the 
students for writing their reasons for such placing. As students very 
often do not know how to state their reasons definitely, the following 
form filled out is suggested for this exercise : 
Name of student : William Smith. Date, February 9, 1917. 
Class of animals : Mutton wethers. 
