JUDGING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1914, Page 12

JUDGING

THE SYSTEM ADOPTED "TRULY EDUCATIVE." If the Winter Show movement did nothing else for the agricultural interests of the Dominion, it should deserve the gratitude of the farming community in that it has revolutionised the system of judging certain of our primary products, and set an example in scientific methods in this lespect which, if not followed in the live stock world, has yet demonstrated how agricultural show judging may be made truly educative, and therefore fulfil its proper mission. The most disappointing factor in connection with the exhibitions of live stock in this country is the fact that the judging is conducted without any system/ and withoui, giving any key to the farmer as to why the awards have been made. That is to say, animals ore decorated with certain tickets, indicating the positions they occupy, without any reason whatever being given by tho judge for making the award 3 . With the advent of the Winter Show and the judging of the dairy produce by State experts, a great reform was effected. The various exhibits were scored on a point rystem ; and not only were the points plainly set forth on cards attached to the competing exhibits, but written statements were also made, so that the exhibitors and all those interested in the competitions were informed as to the reason for the positions occupied by tho exhibits. Thus the annual competitions of butter and cheese at our winter shows have a splendid educational influence light throughout the Dominion, not only to those taking part, but also to the large numbers of ..putter and. cheese makers who make