Bilbo was a bachellor. As we have theorized elsewhere, the One Ring is a strong feminine symbol. Therefore, the symbolism of the pocket as a womb is obvious. Both Bilbo and Frodo did not show a “fertile ground” for it, though: both never had children, and only ever kept the Ring in their pockets – Bilbo even leaves without a handkerchief, plainly the fate to find the Ring is forecast here already.
On the other hand, hobbits who later had many children carry clear and obvious symbols of fertility in their pockets: Sam carries apples in them after Bree.
Also, consider this intriguing piece of dialogue:
“'Lembas!' whispered Pippin. 'Lembas: I've got some. Have you? I don't think they've taken anything but our swords.'
'Yes, I had a packet in my pocket,' answered Merry, 'but it must be battered to crumbs. Anyway I can't put my mouth in my pocket!'”
Lembas, the filled (like an egg) waybread of the noble Elves, is a clear symbol for fertility, and that both Merry and Pippin possessed some foreshadows their many children. The orcs, however, did not take it – healthy, flawless reproduction is alien to the perverted race of the orcs. And of course Merry can’t put his mouth in his pocket.
Already creepily related to this is, per Unfinished Tales:
“It may be mentioned here that when Beleg brought out the lembas from his pack (see The Silmarillion pp. 202, 204) Túrin refused it:
The silver leaves were red in the firelight; and when Túrin saw the seal his eyes darkened. "What have you there?" he said.
"The greatest gift that one who loves you still has to give," answered Beleg. "Here is lembas, the waybread of the Eldar, that no Man yet has tasted."
"The Helm of my fathers I take," said Túrin, "with good will for your keeping; but I will not receive gifts out of Doriath."”
And we all knew to which ill use Túrin only put his fertility. The rejection of the right form of it, represented by the lembas, is another dreadful omen. “The greatest gift that one who loves has to give” is a beautiful way to put it, by the way.
Gollum was not able to eat the lembas, either; and it is apparent that he had long since abandoned the natural human and hobbit ways.
After Pippin has borrowed the palantír, he promises to Gandalf: “'If all the seven stones were laid out before me now, I should shut my eyes and put my hands in my pockets.”
We have here a very hobbit-like rejection of power and possible wealth, and instead an orientation towards the simple joys of family.
See further also this scene of Sam at Cirith Ungol: “Red with his own living blood his hand shone for a moment, and then he thrust the revealing light deep into a pocket near his breast and drew his elven-cloak about him.” The symbolism is almost shocking in its clarity of the act of you know what (for which the blood may be an interesting side note).
Later, he also hides the box Galadriel gave him in said pocket, and if that isn’t womb-fertility symbolism, then I’m a hobbit.
And what does Bilbo carry in his pockets after the War? “Two beautiful pipes with pearl mouth-pieces and bound with fine-wrought silver. ‘Think of me when you smoke them!’ he said. ‘The Elves made them for me, but I don’t smoke now.’” No, Bilbo, your fertile days were really over, and it was wise to give the obligation to Merry and Pippin instead.
Underhill, back me up here, please. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
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