736 



Pig and Potato Clubs. 



[Nov. , 



Some of the Results. — Prompted by motives of patriotism 

 and self-preservation many people started pig-keeping in 1918 

 who had not hitherto done so, and while it was unfortunate 

 that in consequence of the War the position as regards animal 

 feeding stuffs became very serious, it is safe to say that the 

 co-operative organisation provided by pig clubs was the means 

 of preventing many pigs from being slaughtered prematurely. 

 Further, through the pig club movement during the War, the 

 county played a creditable part in the production of food at 

 a time when it was badly needed. It was inevitable that when 

 peace was restored some of the clubs which were started and 

 run largely as War measures by patriotic people would cease 

 their operations, and the movement has been checked some- 

 what by the high cost of store pigs and the prohibitive price 

 of material for building pigs' cots. Nevertheless, the efforts of 

 the county committee to continue their operations on a peace- 

 time basis are fully justified, and at the end of the financial 

 year, 31st March, 1921, there were 63 local clubs affiliated to 

 the county committee. Durin^ the year 3,214 pigs were in- 

 sured, of which 56 died, and the amount of compensation paid 

 out of the committee's fund was £206 17s. 5d. The Cotswold 

 Hills remain true to their traditions in the matter of pig clubs. 

 The older clubs are still vigorous and progressive, many new 

 ones have been started and they are mostly run as pig clubs 

 should be, by the benefitting members, i.e., the cottage pig- 

 teepers, without outside help or patronage, and it is only in 

 this way that any real spirit of co-operation can be maintained. 

 It is hopefully anticipated that, with a return to more normal 

 conditions in the value of pigs and building materials, pig- 

 Tieeping will be increased amongst cottagers and the sphere 

 of good work accomplished b}^ the village clubs developed. 

 This is all the more desirable in view of the general increase 

 of allotments, the supply of animal manure for which is one 

 of the problems that has now to be faced. The allotment 

 holder who has one or two pigs on his plot solves the problem 

 for himself, for while the pigs provide him and his family with 

 wholesome food, they also maintain a supply of manure for the 

 benefit of the vegetable crops grown on the allotment. To 

 realise this one has only to inspect the plot of a pig-keeping 

 allotment holder. 



Local Competitions and Challenge Cups. — In a number of 

 •cases prizes are offered by local clubs for pigs kept by the 

 :members, and in 1920 Lord Bledisloe kindly presented two 



