1 920.] 



Poultry and Eggs. 



*7 



exceeded 4,000,000 and is usually between 3,000,000 and 

 4,000,000 head. During the War, the pig stock in Continental 

 countries was seriously diminished in numbers, and, prolific 

 as the pig is, it will probably take two or three years at least 

 for those countries to restore their stock of pigs to anything 

 like their pre-war level. Denmark was one of the main sources 

 of supply before the War, but it will be some time before 

 exportation from that country approaches its former level. 

 There is, therefore, every reason why cottagers and farmers 

 in this country should increase their production of pigs. Pig 

 keeping should, however, be conducted on an organised soile, 

 particularly so far as cottagers are concerned. The Rural 

 Industries Branch of the Ministry is showing how this organised 

 effort may be made, and full particulars can be obtained on 

 application to the Director of Rural Industries, 4, Whitehall 

 Place, London, S.W. 1. 



Grants for Boars. — Several pig insurance clubs in different 

 paits of the country have recently approached the Ministry, 

 which is advising clubs (already existing or in process of 

 formation) as to the need of improving the breed of pigs. 



A properly constituted society in promoting pig breeding may 

 follow either of two methods : — (a) it may purchase a boar and 

 place it in the custody of a club member ; or (b) the society 

 may arrange with an owner — who need not necessarily belong 

 to the club — to place his boar at the society's disposal on terms 

 agreed. The owner must guarantee the service of not less than 

 20 sows belonging to members. Such owner will be entitled 

 (1) to a payment from the society of not less than the amount 

 of the grant from the Ministry, (2) to a fee of not less than 

 is. per sow served ; and (3) to have not more than 6 of his own 

 sows served by the boar, unless a greater number is sanctioned 

 by the Live Stock Officer. 



During the year 191 3, nearly 144,000 tons of eggs, valued 



at over £9,500,000, were imported into the United Kingdom, 



„ , _ in addition +0 nearly 14,000 tons of dead 



Poultry and Eggs. . , A J 7 ' 



poultry, valued at nearly £1,000,000 At 



present-day prices, the value represented is over £30,000,000. 

 In 1 91 9, the imports of eggs were less by 100,000 tons, and 

 dead poultry by 6,000 tons, but over £7,000,000 of dried and 

 preserved liquid eggs were imported, mainly from China, 

 as compared with only a negligible quantity, in 1913. From 

 Ireland Great Britain imported eggs and poultry during 191 9 

 to the value of probably over £18,000,000. The grand total 



c 



