v] Coniferm 73 



fed without harmful consequences, but Pott states that large quantities 

 can cause hsematuria and similar efiects, and hence only small quantities 

 should be used, and even so may impart a bad flavour to the milk of cows. 

 All green needles frequently cause digestive troubles. 



A case has recently (January, 1916) been reported to the author in 

 which a Douglas Fir was cut down and a small branch about 4 ft. long 

 was flung over into a field. Two sheep nipped off the bark and nearly 

 died, but both vomited and recovered. The farmer reporting this 

 experience recalls that over 30 years ago, after a gale, a lot of trees 

 were blown down in a small plantation, and in severe weather the sheep 

 ate the bark to such an extent that 80 of them aborted, while of the 

 ewes which did not eat the bark none aborted, so that it would appear 

 that the bark of Scotch Fir and Spruce was to blame for the loss. 



The foliage of the Yew {see below) is well known to be danger- 

 ously poisonous to stock, and has caused many losses. 



In regard to Cupressus the only cases of poisoning which have been 

 traced are recorded in The Journal of the Board of Agriculture (October, 

 1905). These cases were reported as follows: — 



"Two instances have recently come before the Board in which the 

 death of cattle has been attributed to the poisonous effects of Cupressus 

 macrocarpa and C. nootkatensis. In one case four bullocks died, and on 

 the internal organs being forwarded by the owner to the Royal Veterinary 

 College, Professor McFadyean reported that from the inflamed condition 

 of the fourth stomach and from the description of the symptoms he had 

 Httle doubt that the cause of death was irritant poison. Some pieces 

 of Cupressus macrocarpa were found in their stomachs, and in default 

 of any other explanation it was suggested that this plant might have 

 some poisonous properties. 



"In another case three heifers are stated to have suffered from 

 irritant poison ; one of them died, but the other two recovered on removal 

 to another field. The veterinary surgeon in this case also attributed 

 the death to a Cupressus {C. nootkatensis) growing by the side of the field. 



"The Board have no information as to the poisonous properties of 

 these two species, nor can any record be found of any similar case which 

 would tend to confirm the suspicion that they are poisonous to cattle." 



REFERENCES. 

 4, 16, 76, 144, 213, 252. 



Yew {Taxus baccata L.). As stated above, the Yew is the only 

 British conifer that is likely to prove seriously poisonous to live stock. 



