22 



The Rot in Sheep. 



is essential that this food should be in a state of decomposition 

 (partially rotten) in order to produce the fatal disease." 



We come next to comment upon the general statements which 

 have been made with regard to the pasturing sheep on water- 

 meadows. It has long since been ascertained that during a 

 certain period of the year sheep are sure to take the rot if 

 placed on irrigated meadows, viz. from about June to October. 

 The cause of this is to our minds very evident ; but we must 

 reserve its explanation for another section of our essay. 



Arthur Young, when speaking of watering meadows in his 

 Farmer's Tour, vol. iii., says " that Mr. W. White, a tenant of 

 Mr. Frampton's, of Moreton, Dorset, remarked, and it is the 

 general observation of the country, that these watered lands 

 never rot sheep in the spring, though they immediately follow 

 the water, or are turned in at any time or in any manner ; but if 

 they are turned into the after-grass, it rots till the autumnal 

 watering, after which they are safe." 



Much has been said with regard to the draining and im- 

 proving of twenty-five acres of imperfectly-made water-meadow 

 belonging to the Duke of Portland, which for twenty years 

 previous to 1826, when the improved drainage was effected, 

 had carried ewes and lambs without the occurrence of rot, be- 

 coming subsequently thereto so dangerous to sheep that it 

 invariably rotted them.* The field is described as being during 

 twenty years so wet as to grow rushes and coarse water-grasses, 

 but yet to be safe pasturage. This it might have possibly been 

 in the spring, but not in the summer and autumn. We are bound 

 to receive the statement as it is ; but we nevertheless think 

 that the entire evidence, both with reference to the safety and 

 the subsequent dangerous condition of the pasture, is wanting in 

 that preciseness which would bear a rigid investigation. 



An analogous case has been published in The Quarterly Journal 

 of Agi {culture, which has so many features in common that it 

 would appear to be identical, but for a slight difference in the 

 dates and a few other particulars. This case received such an 

 excellent reply from an anonymous writer under the signature 

 F. B., which also appeared in the same journal, that, although 

 somewhat long, we venture to transcribe both the case and 

 reply, as thereby some light may possibly be thrown on the 

 other instance : — 



" On Water-Meadows causing the Rot in Sheep. — About the year 1808 

 some land, part of which had been under water, much of which was a bog, and 

 part of which was nearly dry, was drained, levelled, and irrigated. Although 

 it was drained and was so far dry that horses could at all times walk upon it, 

 yet it produced coarse herbage, rushes, and even some flags. In this state it 



* See Royal Agricultural Society's ' Journal,' vol. L, p. 368 et seq. 



