

III. THE < NEW ' PIG 



RECENT Agricultural Returns, encouraging in other 

 respects, disclose a very sad falling-off in the pig popula- 

 tion of the United Kingdom. In 1897 there was a 

 decrease of more than half a million, and though it is 

 maintained that the figures do not include those kept on 

 ' occupations ' of less than half an acre, and should not 

 be taken to heart too seriously by the great number of 

 persons interested in pigs, either as objects of pleasure 

 or profit, there is no doubt that they are temporarily 

 under a cloud. In the phrase of the market, ' pigs are 

 quiet/ and unless the price of grain continues to drop 

 they are likely to remain so for some time. 



Nothing could be more timely, in this partial eclipse 

 of an animal so long and justly prized, than the appear- 

 ance of Mr. Saunders Spencer's treatise on modern pigs,* 

 which not only does full justice to their many admirable 

 qualities, but also gives a very interesting account of 

 their recent history and development, and treats their 



* t Pigs : their Breeds and Management.' By Saunders Spencer. 

 London : Vinton and Co. 



17 2 



