sed, so that eventually the pedigrees of Large
White, Middle White, and Tamworth pigs only were registered in the
N.P.A. Herd Book.

Subsequently the breeders of Tamworth pigs formed themselves into a
society presumably for propaganda work, and to conserve the interests of
breeders of Tamworth pigs. Of late years other breeds of pigs have been
brought to public notice, and have had herd books, and societies
specially devoted to their particular interests. The Large Black, Large
White Ulster, the Lincolnshire Curly Coated pigs, the Gloucestershire
Old Spots, and the Cumberland pigs have their pedigrees recorded. An
attempt was made some years since to resuscitate the Oxfordshire Spotted
pig, but it was not a continued success. It is quite possible that other
local breeds of pigs may find sufficient admirers to form societies to
bring before the public the many good qualities possessed by the pigs of
these breeds, but apart from local interest it is at least doubtful if
any permanent benefit will supervene from this multiplication of herd
books--save that it may increase the interest in pig breeding, a result
devoutly to be prayed for.

The issuing of the scales of points of those breeds of pigs whose
pedigrees are recorded in the various herd books has rendered it
unnecessary for us to endeavour to formulate the good qualities which
are presumably those which are more or less completely possessed by
these pedigreed animals, nor does the necessity exist for us to mention
those particular qualities which each breed is supposed by the admirers
of other breeds to lack. There is no doubt that each breed possesses
certain points which render it specially suitable for differing
localities and varying purposes.

Some persons who look upon a pig solely as an animal, as a converter of
various substances into pork, are of opinion that the tendency of those
responsible for the running of these societies is towards fancy points
to the detriment of the practical points. There appears to have been
some grounds for this view. The Small White, the Small Black, the
Berkshire, and the Large White have all been affected by the acts of
faddists. The three first-named breeds suffered from the aims of certain
of the breeders to reduce the size and to increase the so-called quality
until the consumers of pork refused to follow the fashion; whilst the
craze which has seriously affected the utility of the Large White pigs
has been exactly the