PLAGUE OF FIELD VOLES. 163 



Mr. R. F. Dudgeons Report upon the Plague of Field Voles in 

 the Counties of Roxburgh and Dumfries, and the Stewartry 

 of Kirkcudbright. 



From replies to circulars addressed to thirty or forty land- 

 lords, factors, and tenant farmers in the above counties, I am able 

 to report as follows : — 



Roxburgh. — The districts of this county affected by the plague 

 are the west and south-west portions of Teviotdale adjoining the 

 counties of Selkirk and Dumfries, and the south-west portion of 

 Liddesdale. The gross area of the farms seriously affected may 

 be stated as between 30,000 and 40,000 acres. 



The Voles, although more or less numerous than usual for the 

 previous two years, multiplied to an alarming extent during the 

 spring and summer of 1891. A correspondent in Teviotdale 

 describes them as now " swarming in millions." They apparently 

 first attack the deeper boggy and rough pasture lands, which are 

 destroyed to the extent of nearly four-fifths* of their area; one- 

 half of the area of the hill farms in the districts named may be 

 said to be in bog or rough pasture, and I think that I should not 

 be far wrong in stating that some 12,000 to 15,000 acres have been 

 rendered entirely useless by reason of the plague. As the bog or 

 rough pasture becomes foul or exhausted, the Voles spread to the 

 barer lea land, and even to the heather, which they bark, at the 

 same time biting off the young shoots. The grasses are first 

 attacked close to the surface of the ground, and the stalk is con- 

 sumed as far as it continues white or succulent ; young shoots 

 are also nipped off; grass tufts are to be seen completely eaten 

 through, what is left by the Voles being absolutely valueless. 

 Sheep are suffering severely in the districts affected ; large portions 

 of many flocks have been removed to winterage, wherever that can 

 be found, artificial food and purchased hay is being given to the 

 stock on many hirsels ; the lightness of last year's hay crop and 

 the present high price of purchased fodder, cakes, and corn adds 

 very considerably to the difficulties of the farmers. Plantations 

 are in some instances attacked, buds being nipped off, and bark 

 peeled. The arable land attached to some of the farms is not 



* Note. — A later communication from the Inspector states that even a 

 larger proportion than this has been totally destroyed. 



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