The Value of recUgree. 
30 
The sheep societies comprise the following : — 
Cotswold Sheep Society 
Lincoln Longwool Sheep-Breeders’ 
Association 
Oxford Down Sheep-Breeders’ 
Association 
Southdown Sheep-Breeders’ Associa- 
tion 
Shropshire Sheep-Breeders’ Associa- 
tion and Flock Book Society 
Hampshire Down Sheep-Breeders’ 
Association 
Suffolk Sheep Society 
Cheviot Sheep Society 
Dorset Horn Sheep-Breeders’ Asso- 
ciation 
Wensleydale Longwool Sheep - 
Breeders’ Association and Flock 
Book Society 
Pure Select Wensleydale Sheep 
Breeders’ Association and Flock 
Book Society 
There are likewise pig herd-books, such as those of the 
British Berkshire Society and the National Pig Breeders’ 
Association, but how these are kept reliable I am at a loss to 
know, for it seems to me a very difficult and dangerous pro- 
ceeding to have to deal correctly with a litter, or, as often must 
be the case, with litters of pigs. The same observation applies 
to sheep, for how is it possible to keep the registration even 
of a flock of 200 ewes ? At the Shows of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, and at all our principal breeding shows, cattle 
and horses must be certified to be entered, or as eligible for 
entry, in the herd- or stud-book of their respective breeds, 
whilst *he first stipulation made by a foreign buyer is that the 
animal shall be entered in its herd- or stud-book, or that a certi- 
ficate be obtained from the breed society vouchins: for the accu- 
racy or eligibility of its pedigree. The value of the registration 
of pure stock thus becomes apparent, and it should not be 
neglected by any breeder, however small, as the want of atten- 
tion to this matter may mean, in the case of an exceptionally 
good animal, a very serious loss when it comes to be sold. 
With reference to the value and influence of pure-bred stock, 
it is of interest, as showing the rise and fall in the price of pure- 
bred Shorthorns, to glance at a return lately published in the 
Journal (Vol. II., third series, 1892, p. 878) of the sales in 
the late Duke of Devonshire’s Holker herd, from the years 1851 
to 1889 : — 
Year 
Head sold 
Average 
Total of sale 
£ 
(i. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
1851 
56 
25 
2 
6 
1,407 
0 
0 
1864 
30 
66 
3 
0 
1,984 
10 
0 
1871 
43 
240 
13 
10 
10,349 
17 
0 
1874 
43 
383 
13 
3 
16,497 
12 
0 
1878 
30 
664 
1 
10 
19,922 
14 
0 
1883 
45 
167 
3 
0 
7,524 
G 
0 
1889 
38 
104 
13 
0 
3,981 
12 
0 
