Report on Liver-Rot. 
185 
left, the rest died of fluke, some as lately as April, and instead 
of having over 100 lambs he has thirteen. Mr. Fhovias Cranston, 
Rjon House, from his Newton Farm, Dilwyn, has lost the 
greater part of his ewe stock. Mr. Geo. Ritt, Chadnor, lost 
heavily of his Shropshire ewe stock. Mr. Geo. Bray, Henwood, 
Dilwyn, had heavy losses amongst his older sheep. Mr. 
Jas. Smith, Bedney, lost nearly, if not all, his white-faced 
flock. A small farmer {^Bowen, of Dunvvood) had 2G ewes last 
autumn, he has now six, but they are worthless. Mr. Finney, 
Luston, has been a great loser. Immediately round the town 
losses have been very heavy, but a great many of the cases have 
occurred in sheep purchased. Mr. John Ludye, Ivington Court, 
has ten such sheep left out of 125 bought in Hereford Market of 
Mrs. Evans, Swanstone. Mr. Griffiths, Hyatt, Larnsfield, has lost 
a great number of his older sheep. Mr. Fierce and Mr. Vauyhan, 
of Norton Canon, have lost nearly all their older sheep, and a 
great number of the younger. Mr. Griffiths, Little Larnsfield, 
has lost heavily. Major fVorswick, Larnsfield, has also been a 
great loser. 
Mr. Arliwriyht has furnished very full reports of the ad- 
mirable management followed on his home-farms. One extends 
to 958 acres, 800 acres being old pasture, the remainder arable. 
The land is drained and sound. The flock numbers 470 South- 
downs and Leicesters, invariably kept on the old grass from 
December to April, fed besides on hay, cotton-cake, oats, and 
salt, which is used freely at all seasons. Rot has been unknown 
until 1880, when sixteen cases occurred. The Shropshire Downs 
suffered more than the Leicesters ; the two and three-year-olds 
more than the lambs. No explanation can be given of the 
introduction of the disease ; the running stream, river, and pools 
are not considered injurious to the sheep: no particular plants 
or weeds are observable in the meadows. The disease is be- 
lieved to be contracted between June and November ; few are 
noticed to be amiss before November. Frost and severe weather 
generally lead up to the first symptoms. Snails and slugs are 
numerous on the arable land, but not on the pastures. Starlings, 
during the past two years, have been reduced in numbers, but 
no difference is observable as to the numbers of other birds. Dry 
food and salt are believed to be the most effectual remedies for 
preventing rot and arresting it in the early stages. 
Mr. Arkwright's Stone and other home-farms at Pencombe 
comprise 765 acres, in about equal proportions of old pasture 
and arable. The land has been drained, and is fairly dry; the 
pasture is hilly and generally well adapted for sheep, of which 
445 are kept chiefly upon the arable land, their diet usually being 
supplemented by concentrated food. Twenty-four ewes died 
