Ewe-Flocks of Lincolnshire in 1883. 
205 
depend. With these considerations in view, the desirability of 
a guarded and judicious employment of this description of food 
in the management of breeding-stock cannot be too forcibly 
insisted upon, for, as I shall show, it is in the abuse of such 
roots that danger resides, and not, as has just been pointed out, 
in the presence of any special element of a pernicious nature. 
That this is so, is shown by the fact that, notwithstanding the 
untoward results which befel the ewes, the hoggs which imme- 
diately preceded them, and fed from the same crop, were 
entirely free from disease in almost every flock to which this 
enquiry refers. 
If proof were wanting of the hurtful influence of that too 
common system which condemns pregnant ewes to live exclu- 
sively on filth-laden shells, or cold innutritious roots, it is found 
in the facts and circumstances of the outbreak in question. 
In dealing with this part of the subject it will be convenient 
to divide the several modes of feeding described in the returns 
into three classes ; viz. : 1. In which roots alone were employed ; 
2. In which roots were supplemented by frequent changes to 
grass ; 3. In which roots were supplemented by corn and cake, 
or some other substantial aliment. 
In Class 1, I find that of the total number of ewec so fed, 
19 per cent, aborted. In Class 2, 3 per cent. In Class 3, Ij per 
cent. 
A similar kind of testimony is adduced in more than one 
instance where particular flocks were divided into two parts ; 
one receiving dry food in conjunction with roots, while the 
other subsisted on roots alone. In the former, the ewes are 
stated to have carried their offspring through the full period of 
gestation, while many of the latter aborted. Similar examples 
of the saving influence of manger food were found where old 
broken-mouthed ewes were allowed to " go forward " with the 
hoggs, and share in their better feed. To the injurious influences 
already pointed out may also be added the prevalence of easterly 
and north-easterly winds, and drenching rains, for many succes- 
sive days and nights, when, as was stated by many of my correspon- 
dents, " the ewes, the ground, and the turnips were sodden with 
moisture," during the most critical period of pregnancy. At 
this time, the ground became waterlogged, and many of the 
ewes with their burden of young within, and the fleece laden 
with soil and water without, fell with fatigue while moving 
through the deep holding ground in search of food. It was 
stated again and again that when, through sheer necessity, the 
flock was removed on to pasture offering a tolerable lair, such 
was their state of fatigue, that they continued to lie down for 
I 
