3 
in 1879 and 1880.—Mr. Dun says that in 1*879, “ It was 
estimated that in England ana Wales alone, three millions 
of sheep died or were sacrificed from rot, and the losses in 
1880 were equally great.” This, at a rough calculation can¬ 
not be called less than ^5,000,000 per annum loss to the 
country ! Well may the agricultural world be in a state of 
depression, what with rents, rates, taxes, artificial manures 
and feeding stuffs, bad seasons and foreign competition ; yet 
all these difficulties are not, in my opinion, to be compared 
with the disastrous maladies that infest the fold, and these I 
think can in a great measure be prevented, and for this 
object natural commodities are extensively distributed, and 
only waiting human aid to assist in the balancing effort of 
the great laws of nature. She is ever bountiful and contin¬ 
ually pointing out the right direction by furnishing us with 
the most essential articles in the greatest abundance ! Look 
at her boundless store-houses in the crust of the earth, as 
well as the migfffy oceans, ail rich with agents for our use, 
benefit -and comfort, and from their great supply, man, in 
his ignorance, over-looks or cast£ them aside. Deprive us 
of air, water, salt, wood, coal, stone, lime, &c., and what 
would be the result ? And yet all these are natural com- 
mpditjes ! 
But to my subject. Professor Simonds in his pamphlet, 
records periodical outbreaks of this disease in 1735-47-66-92, 
1809-16-24-30-53-60-62-79. These visitations were more or 
less severe according to the amount of rain-fall during the 
summer months bringing ruin to many a struggling farmer, 
as well as being a great national loss* The Midland, 
Southern and Western Counties seem to have been the 
most affected districts ! Well may there be farms to let 
in these parts ! Looking back to the enormous rain-fall we 
