100 REPORT OP THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



yearling premium boar must serve at least thirty sows, and each 

 two-year-old boar forty sows. The service fee must not exceed Is 

 After the minimum number of sows have been served the farmer 

 can make his own terms. The result of the scheme may be 

 gathered from the following table : — 



No. of premiums 1901. 1902. 1903, 1904. 1905. 



to boars . . 151 154 181 129 205 



Money allocated 



for premiums £ s. D. £ s. D. £ s. d. £ s. D. £ s. D. 



to boars . . 2395 2685 2530 2070 1740 

 Money expended 



in premiums 



to boars . . 752 6 8 726 878 13 4 624 845 



Notwithstanding all the efforts that have been put forth, and 

 in spite of the good quality of Irish bacon, the trade has not 

 ■developed. From 1880 the number of pigs in Ireland on the 

 whole increased, until 1887 was reached, the year in which 

 Denmark went into the trade in earnest. From 1887 till 1891 

 the number of pigs in Ireland was well maintained. After that 

 the number began to fall, and the tendency on the whole has been 

 downward ever since. Moreover, the export trade has been 

 growing. Pigs do not, tlierefore, seem to be maintaining their 

 old position in Ireland, and bacon-curing is apparently losing 

 ground. The following table shows the number of pigs in Ireland 

 and the number exported to Great Britain from 1881 till 1905 : — 



