PKOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETI^'GS. 43 



to enter on the subject of remedial or preventative measures, bej^ond stating that it has 

 been brought to the notice of the committee that at Miuto Kaimes the disease has at 

 any rate been very much mitigated, since the tenant has taken to cutting over the coarser 

 grasses with a reaper ; beneficial results are also said to have been obtained on other 

 farms by burning, and also partial grazing with cattle. 



Report on the Flora of Vpyer Teviotdale, in Connection with its Relation to 



'^^ Louping-ill" in Sheep. 



Gentlemen, — Acting upon the instructions received from your Secretary, I proceeded 

 to the localities indicated to make an exhaustive examination of the vegetation existing 

 upon certain hill pastures in the district of Upper Teviotdale, for the purpose of dis- 

 covering, if possible, the cause of the disease in sheep kno\\Ti by the name of " louping- 

 ill," which is prevalent on some spots in that district. 



The first farm visited was Broadhaugh, on June 17, 1879. On the following day I 

 made an examination of the uncultivated part of the farm and also some of the culti- 

 vated land, noting every phanerogamic plant seen and the predominating cryptogams, 

 without detecting anything in the vegetation at that time capable of i^roducing the 

 symptoms of louping-ill, as there were no plants noted but what are found on healthy 

 places. I was then forced to the conclusion that the disease was not caused by the 

 vegetation in a normal state. Neither did the geological formation difter from that of 

 many places that are free from that disease. Some other cause had to be looked for. 

 Knowing something of the nature and properties of ergot, it struck me forcibly at the 

 time that it was the most probable cause, as from the appearance oi the pastures at that 

 time I had good Reasons to believe that ergot would be prevalent in the autumn. The 

 manner in which they were treated — leaving them very rough for winter and spring 

 feeding — being the most suitable way to encourage its growth. Besides, the symptoms 

 of louping-ill are similar to what would be produced by poisonous doses of that 

 parasite. 



Part of Harwood was next visited, and found to be somewhat similar to Broadhaugh, 

 but with more "heather" (Calluna vulgaris, Erica Tetralix, Km! E. cinerea), "stool 

 bent" (Junctcs squarrosus), and other heath-loving plants. 



Skelfliill was next examined, and the altitude being greater — from 847 feet at the 

 house to 1745 on the top of Skelfhill pen, and about 2000 feet on Cauldcleuch — some 

 of the lower level plants were missed, and a number of sub-alpine species noted, in 

 addition to those seen on the lower farms (the parts formerly examined were from 

 above 500 to 900 feet above sea-level), but still nothing likely to induce the disease. 

 The same may be said of Howpasley, where the altitudes of the parts examined ranged 

 from 700 to 1.561 feet. There also a few additional species were observed, and, like 

 Skelfhill, wanting some of the plants that grow at lower levels. 



Owing to the weather and other causes, which put a stop to the investigation, I did 

 not get back to the district until July 28th, when Howcleuch, Borthwickshiels, and 

 Harden were gone over with a like result, viz., without discovering any plants that 

 would be injurious to sheep, when in their normal state, or any different species, with 

 one exception — Meiim aihamanticum at Howpasley — from those found on the Cheviot 

 range, and other healthy places on the Borders. It must not be understood that no 

 poisonous jjlauts whatever were seen. For instance, JJigitalis purpurea, which is 

 poisonous, occurred on some spots, but the same plant grows in very much greater 

 profusion on many of the healthiest places. 



To make the investigation as complete as possible, I shortly afterwards examined 

 several similarly situated places, which are said to lie free from louping-ill, viz., one of 

 the Cheviots, Bowdeu Moor, and several hills in Peeblesshire, ami, according to alti- 

 tude, found no material difference in the species of plants from those seen in Upper 

 Teviotdale, but the jiastures were eaten closer and very much barer naturally, with the 

 exception of Bowdeii Moor, which was rougher, ami more resembled the infected 

 places. 



A second visit was found to be necessary in the autumn, to see if the condition of 

 the vegetation was in any way altered. Accordingly, liowjasley was revisited on the 

 24th of September, and, as I suspected, ergot was then found in great abumlance. 

 There I gathered "spurs " of ergot from sixteen different species of grasses. All the 

 other farms, formerly examined, were afterwards gone over, and ergot found plentifully 

 on them all except Howcleucli, where it was very local and in small quantity, not 

 nearly so much in proportion to tlie extent of the ground, a large jiortion of the drier 

 jiarts producing very lew llowering stems of the grasses. On the different places ergot 

 was found on twenty-three speci' s in all, viz. : — 



1. Anfhnxanthmn otloratum (sweet vernal grass). 



2. llifjrajjhis aruvdinacea (red canary grass). 



3. Alnpecurus pratensis (meadow fox-tail grass). 



4. Phtewn pra tense (cat's-tail grass, Tiniothy gra.ss). 



