CHAPTER X 

 THE FINAL PHASE 



AFTER 1875, the period of prosperity drew rapidly to 



a close. For several years the crops suffered from long 



spells of bad weather. Then in 1879 came 



The agri- an epidemic of sheep-rot, which resulted 

 cultural . \. .... r i 



disaster. m the destruction of millions of sheep. 



Foot and mouth disease was also prevalent, 

 especially in 1883, when it attacked cattle and sheep 

 and pigs on a large scale. There was also a drop in 

 the price of corn, of butter and cheese, and, after 1885, of 

 cattle and sheep. The fall in the price of corn continued 

 owing to the large surplus crops in the United States, 

 coupled with the improved transit arrangements which 

 made the importation cheap and easy. During the 

 twenty years 1880 to 1900 wheat averaged about 335. 

 a quarter ; in 1894 the average of the recorded market 

 prices actually dropped to 22s. lod. a quarter, whilst 

 in some places it was, on occasions, below i a quarter. 

 The farmers also suffered from the difficulty of obtain- 

 ing child labour, since the Education Act of 1876* 

 kept the boys and girls at school. Women were also 

 difficult to obtain, since the country girl, rather than 

 work in the fields, went into service or into employ- 

 ment in the shops of the towns. Losses were enormous. 



* See Appendix, p. 168. 

 157 



