1922.] 



Saddled A CK or Sheeted Pigs. 



685 



and white sheeted Essex pigs blaek." Although the same author 

 gives a description of the Sussex pig of that day — about 1830 — 

 he omits to describe the colour of it. However, it is on record 

 that Mr. Western, or as he subsequently became, Lord Western, 

 did purchase sheeted pigs in the South of England in the early 

 portion of the last century and kept them on his estate in Essex. 



The sheeted pig v>-as not kept in its purity in Essex to any 

 very great extent during the latter half of the last century, but 

 the persistency with which the sheeted markings appeared in 

 pigs which were admittedly of mixed breeding may be said to 

 prove that the foundation breed of the Essex pig must have pos- 

 sessed many of the characteristics, including the colour, of the 

 sheeted pig as .^t is known in the Eastern and Southern counties. 



There surely must be a sufficient similarity in the form, cha- 

 racter and colour of the two types of saddleback pigs to render 

 it advisable that a junction of the two societies should take place, 

 so that the whole of the energies of the breeders of Saddleback 

 pigs, whatever their origin, should be concentrated on the exten- 

 sion of the undoubtedly many good qualities of the sheeted pig. 

 The old sajdng that a house divided against itself cannot stand, 

 may not be entirely applicable to the present position of two 

 societies to look after the interests of one breed of pig, yet a 

 combination of the best men of the East and of the South must 

 be more pregnant of good than divided councils. It could hardly 

 be beyond the power of a small Committee composed of two 

 or three members of each Society and an independent chair- 

 man to devise a scheme which would prove beneficial to all the 

 breeders of Saddlebacks and to the pig itself. It would indeed be 

 ii great pitv that a bieed with so many inherent good qualities 

 should be delayed in its full development by a slight difference 

 of opinion amongst its breeders in different parts of the country 

 as to the value of certain minor points which are of greater fancy 

 than commercial value. If proof were needed of the great value 

 of amalgamation we have it exhibited in the affairs of the Large 

 Black Pig Society. The types of pigs bred in the Eastern 

 Counties and in the South-Western Counties were decidedly 

 different, yet by a combination of the two a breed has been 

 evolved which has more supporters than any other single breed 

 of pig. The breeders of Wensleydale sheep have also admitted 

 the great value of combination by merging the two Flock Book 

 Societies into one. 



This continued division of interest and energy would be 

 most unfortunate, as the sheeted or saddleback pig has many 



