1920.] Importation of Potatoes into Ireland. 811 



to prove poisonous to live stock in any serious degree. The 

 tree has unfortunately been a frequent cause of fatal 

 poisoning to horses and cattle, and many cases resulting from 

 the animals eating fresh foliage direct from the trees are on 

 record. The bark, leaves and seed are all poisonous, and the 

 leaves are the part usually eaten. Old leaves and shoots are 

 the most poisonous parts, and stock are perhaps more likely 

 to eat the dark green foliage of the yev^ in winter or during 

 a scarcity of green fodder than at any other time. 



Experiments made with autumn and winter leaves indi- 

 cate that the quantities necessary to kill animals may 

 range from 0.2 lb. per 100 lb. live weight in the case' 

 of a horse to 1 lb. per 100 lb. live weight in the case 

 of cows and sheep, but naturally the figures obtained by 

 experiments in this connection vary. Investigations point to 

 the alkaloid Taxine as being the toxic substance, although 

 it is doubtful whether this is the only poison present. Taxine 

 has a bitter taste, is a heart depressant and may cause death 

 from suffocation. Yew also contains a considerable quantity 

 of formic acid and the irritant volatile oil of yew. The yew 

 is irritant and narcotic, and the poison is not cumulative but 

 rapidly effective, so that in certain cases animals may die 

 suddenly without an}- previous symptoms having been 

 observed. 



When yew hedges and yew trees are clipped it is desirable 

 that the clippings should be removed out of reach of any 

 stock that may be grazing in the vicinity, as otherwise they are, 

 liable to be eaten, with the conseouences indicated above. 



By the terms of an Order recently made by the Department 

 of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, which 

 Importation of ^^'^'^^ i^^o operation on the 15th November, 

 Potatoes potatoes may be imported into Ireland 



into Ireland fi'om any country except under licence to 

 be obtained by the consignee in Ireland. 

 Every consignment of potatoes imported must be accompanied 

 by a declaration of the sender in a prescribed form. Forms of 

 application for licences and forms of declaration can be 

 obtained on application to the Department at Upper Merrion 

 Street, Dublin. 



Potatoes grown in England and Wales will only be per- 

 mitted to enter Ireland if a certificate has been issued by the 



