288 The Agricultural Lessoyis of " the Eighties." 
dietaries which shall unerringly represent an albuminoid ratio. 
To actually compose a mixed food having a definite ratio of this 
kind would necessitate fresh analyses in every case. It is also 
evident, that while one ratio is better suited for growing animals, 
and another for mature fatting animals, it becomes a difficult 
and complicated question as to what the ratio should be in the 
case of animals such as lambs, for example, which are growing 
in bone and muscle and laying on fat at the same time. The 
increasing practice of completing the fatting of young animals 
at an early age is evidently confusing with regard to any 
particular ratio of carbo-hydrates to albuminoids, and we shall 
probably find that farmers will prefer to be guided by their own 
traditions, based as they are on success, and by the exigencies 
of seasons and the market-price of certain foods. 
10. Diseases of Stock. 
The principal diseases which have caused anxiety during the 
last ten years have been anthrax, pleuro-pneumonia, foot-and- 
mouth disease and swine fever. An opinion in favour of inocu- 
lation was at one time prevalent, but this has steadily given 
way before the drastic method spoken of generally as " stamping- 
out/' This view is now almost universally accepted, and the 
result is the repeated Orders to prevent removal of animals 
from county to county, the closing of infected ports, and com- 
pulsory slaughter. What appears still further to be required, is 
the compulsory slaughter of fat animals at the ports of debarka- 
tion. It has also been urged, with reason and with success, 
that compensation to our home breeders, rearers, and main- 
tainers of stock, for the compulsory slaughter of these animals, 
should be made from the imperial taxation of the country, 
rather than from local rates. 
These ten lessons of the ' ; Eighties" might, no doubt, have 
been further subdivided and added to. The institution of 
a Board of Agriculture was one of the principal achievements 
of the past decade, and ought not to be overlooked in even the 
shortest epitome of progress during that period. The advance 
of this important movement to its successful issue 'in 1889 
is in itself a lesson well worthy of separate mention. It is 
a fitting topic to conclude with, aud if space had allowed 
I should have gladly enlarged upon it. 
With a good Board of Agriculture, a gradual adjustment of 
farming business to altered values, and apparently a return of 
more favourable conditions as to climate, we may look forward 
with renewed hope to the future of British Agriculture. 
John Wrigiitsox. 
