DEW-ROT 681 



on arable land which is not under pasture. Dew-rot very 

 frequently appears among ewes that are going with the ram, 

 and are consequently better fed at this time than usual. A 

 rapidly improving condition may render the system more 

 susceptible to the disorder, as is the case with many other 

 diseases. Sheep that are being forced under high farming 

 methods or for show purposes, are more liable to give 

 trouble than those fed in a moderate way ; and the death- 

 rate, as a rule, is then much higher. 



Another common cause of an excessive death-rate is 

 allowing sheep, through bad management or want of 

 proper food, to fall into an unthriving condition, or, in 

 common language, to get a "backset." If hoggets are 

 kept, more particularly late into spring, on a turnip 

 crop which has not been properly cleaned of weeds 

 while growing, a very alarming death-rate frequently 

 occurs. There is a pretty wide-spread belief in Gloucester- 

 shire, both amongst farmers and shepherds, that chick-weed, 

 Stellaria media, if abundant, is most hurtful to young sheep. 



