1922.] 



Gloucestershire Old Spots Pigs. 



1107 



making and cheese-making were commonly followed, so that 

 a considerable number of strong and healthy pigs were required 

 for the consumption of the skim milk and butter milk and the 

 whey. Further, because a very large number of small holdings 

 were in the occupation of a thrifty and hard-working race of 

 farmers, pigs which could be converted into bacon for the 

 summer supply of animal food for the farmers and their large 

 families were equally necessary. Probably it was owing to 

 these, rather than to any other causes that the evolution of the 

 hardy, prolific and quick-grow T ing pig, most suitable for the 

 manufacture of large, thick and heavy sides of bacon, and 

 now termed the Gloucestershire Old Spots pig, was brought 

 about. It may be asked why these qualities should be less 

 persistent now that the conditions have changed, whilst there 

 exists so great a difficulty in retaining points which at the 

 present time are deemed to be necessary, in the pigs of other 

 breeds, in order to command success in the various showyards? 

 One answer which might be given is that these particular 

 characteristics, referred to as being common in the Gloucester- 

 shire Old Spots pigs, are more or less inherent and natural to 

 the breed, whereas the peculiar points referred to as necessary 

 for the successful exhibition of pigs of most breeds are mere 

 fancy points, more or less the result of chance, and therefore 

 not natural to the animal and of little or no practical value. 



If further evidence of the many good qualities of the 

 Gloucestershire Old Spots pig was required, proof would be 

 furnished by the phenomenal success .of the Society established 

 only some 8 or 9 years since. No other pig society has such 

 a record. This wonderful success must have been due to a 

 large extent to the inherent good qualities of the spotted pig, 

 but it could not have been achieved had it not been for the 

 vast amount of successful effort bestowed on the Society by 

 the original Council and the Honorary Secretary of the Society. 



The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig has found new homes in 

 most parts of the country, where it has become noted for its 

 hardiness, its quick growth, and its ability to grow into a large 

 fat pig comparatively early in life. These were the qualities 

 amongst others that madg it so great a favourite in the county 

 of its origin, and they are still thoroughly appreciated in other 

 districts. Xow that the numbers of the particular breed have 

 so enormously increased, however, the pork trade alone will 

 not be able to absorb all the fat pigs produced. In order to 

 give some idea of the great extension of these spotted pigs, it 



