1909.] Suggestions for Pig-Feeders. 



719 



the pig population of Great Britain during the past year or 

 two, combined with the high prices which have lately pre- 

 vailed, should certainly prove a stimulus to the pig-keeper 

 to secure some of this trade and afterwards retain it in his 

 own hands. 



It will be seen from the table which follows that the pig 

 population in 1909 was lower than either in 1907 or 1908. 





1907. 



1908. 



1909. 



England 



2,257,136 



2,439,087 



2,046,284 



Wales 



232,996 



240,611 



204, 784 



Scotland 



146,634 



143,784 



129,819 



Great Britain 



2,636,766 



2,823,482 



2,380,887 



The number of pigs in 1908 was 200,000 greater than in 

 1907, but also 440,000 (over 18 per cent.) greater than in 

 1909. It seems probable that breeding sows have been exten- 

 sively marketed, for the number is lower this year than at any 

 time since 1893, when it was 308,722, compared with 

 316,552 in 1909 and 369,476 in 1908. 



The Trade and Navigation Returns for the ten months 

 January to October show that the imports of bacon during 

 the past three years have fallen off considerably, and the 

 deficit is especially noticeable as regards the United States 

 and Canada. The figures are as follows: — 



Imports of Bacon for the Ten Months ended 

 3 1 st October. 



From 



Quantities (in thousands of cwt.) 



Values (in thousands of £). 



1907. 



1908. 



1909. 



1907. 



1908. 



1909. 



Denmark 



United States of America 



Canada... 



Other countries 



1,5" 

 2,273 

 729 

 78 



1,726 

 2,423 

 567 

 76 



i 5 53o 

 1,848 

 37o 

 136 



4,545 

 5,955 

 2,019 

 221 



4,783 

 5,646 



1,485 

 209 



4,849 

 4,97o 

 1,118 

 427 



Total 



4,59i 



4,792 



3,884 



12,740 



12,123 



11,364 



The shortage in the supply of pigs in the United States 

 is therefore concurrent with the shortage in home supplies, 



