Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-25
Startling Innovations.

The New England agricultural society
have made wide departure this year in
the matter of their committees, They are
going to have one man on each committee
who knows something of what he is to
Judge upon. At meeting of the trustees
held in Boston May 18th, and published
in the Ptougtman June 30th, discussion
was had on having one "expert" on each
committee which was finally carried. Mr.
o. B. Headwere of Worcester got so wild
as to want all the committee to have some
knowledge of their business or be experts,
but he was squelched, at least two thirds
squelched. The chairman (and who he
was it does not stake, but the tracks look
very like Col. Needham's) though it woulJ
be very difficult to find "a men, three for
each of the classes, who were experts,
and the enormous expense which would be
incurred in paying such committee 50
day each for two days evidently appalled,
him, but they voted to have one expert
and that leaves two ON the committee who
can probably be relied on to Fix things"
properly.
Mr.. B. j. Stone of Wesboro gave
pretty good idea of how the matter has
been managed and the general estimate
of the public in the matter. Hear him:
Mr.. Stone. Do you want to have men
for Judges who will need to be told what
particular breed of cattle is, whether
Jerseys or ShorthornsP or do you want
men who have been breeding working
oxen TO Judge of milch cows9 We have
suffered because of the incompetency OF
some men who have been put on the com
mittees. have talked with DR.. Lorine
on this subject and he brought up the same
objection, that there were no experts.
cannot believe that this country is so des
titute of good judges of cattle that we
cannot get experts enough to judge of the
thoroughbredsexhib at our fairs. |
think if we adopt the Rhode Island system
the whole of New England need not be
behind the little state of Rhode Island in
making great exhibition. When they
Burnett of Southborough,to Judge of cattle,
the exhibitors have not a word to say
they know that they are competent men,
and men who will carry out their own
convictions in regard to cattle. Give me
a maniwho knows what he il to Judge,
rather than man whose decisions are
influenced by favoritism.
The chairman seemed to think the soci-
city furnished sufficient data for Judging,
SO the wayfaring man though fool need
not err in Judging class, whether he had
ever seen any specimens of the class
before or not.
The chairman. would like to say, in
this connection, that we publish every year
the points Of all the distinct breeds of
cattle, and within year, have had II
letter from the royal society in Montreal
saying that these points which we publish
annually were most valuable contribution
to the literature of the fair that had ever
been made by any society, and they
thanked this society, over and over tor
presenting to the country these distinct
points in every one of its publications.
No matter how much literature Il man
may have concerning breed of cattle,
unless he has had experience in comparing
specimens of that breed, his knowledge
of'ponts'' will not enable him to properly
Judge of the class he is called on to com.
pure. Judging from personal stenjpolnt
u person who would be an expert Judge
on Jersey cattle, would not be likely to
understand and judge Short Horns, or
Ayrshires, because his interest and utten-
tion and experience have all been directed
to different, and in many respects opposite
points OF excellence
At about the close Col. Riddle, the |
treasurer, moved that the names of COM
mittees be not published, the idc, being
that not being known, they cannot be
tempered with.
The hest and most valuable thing an
agricultural society, as well rs an individ- |
ual, can have, is character, and when such |
a society has achieved a reputation for
selection of men for judges whose names
must be kept secret 10 prevent their being
it bribed or improperly influenced, mad bet
ter make haste to change it or shut up shop. |