258 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEXER. 
March  22,  1900. 
annoyance  caused  by  it,  and  will  be  able  to  impress  upon  the  younger 
generation  a  wholesome  dread  of  a  return  of  such  a  visitation. 
That  it  is  a  very  contagious  disease  there  is  no  doubt,  but  we  do 
not  think  it  is  conveyed  by  the  air.  Thirty  years  ago  we  were  upon 
a  farm  that  for  three  years  was  rarely  without  a  case  of  foot  and 
mouth.  No  breeding  herd  was  kept,  but  store  cattle  were  bought  as 
required  in  Yorkshire  markets.  During  the  time  that  the  disease 
was  so  prevalent  every  animal  purchased  was  treated  as  being  a 
probable  patient,  and  very  few  escaped.  The  autumn  months  were 
those  during  which  the  principal  purchases  were  made  ;  the  animals 
were  placed  in  one  of  two  yards  separated  from  the  main  farm 
premises,  and  used  as  hospitals  or,  rather,  sanatoriums,  for  many  of 
the  cattle  were  suffering  from  the  disease  when  bought,  and  already 
past  the  worst  stages. 
As  they  became  convalescent  they  were  disinfected  and  drafted  ofi 
amongst  other  cattle.  Half  a  dozen  milch  cows  were  kept  on  the 
main  premises,  but  these  never  took  the  complaint.  A  flock  of  ewes 
was  lambed  every  year  in  one  of  the  hospital  yards,  after  the  latter 
had  been  cleared  of  cattle  and  manure  for  some  time,  and  no  outbreak 
of  foot  and  mouth  took  place  amongst  the  ewes,  so  it  is  fair  to 
suppose  that  the  contagion  is  not  so  very  easily  conveyed,  and  may 
be  avoided  with  reasonable  care.  For  either  two  or  three  seasons 
lambing  was  proceeding,  and  foot  and  mouth  disease  existent  within 
a  radius  of  100  yards,  yet  no  evil  effects  befell  the  ewes.  The  only 
safeguards  used  were  disinfection  of  appliances,  both  permanent  and 
movable,  and  prevention  of  all  communication  between  cowman  and 
shepherd ;  to  aid  the  efficiency  of  the  latter  precaution  a  separate  cake 
supply  was  provided  for  each. 
Farmers  in  other  parishes  were  not  so  fortunate,  and  where  the 
disease  attacked  a  breeding  flock  very  serious  loss  was  incurred.  On 
some  farms  the  greatest  loss  was  from  abortion,  induced  during  the 
later  periods  of  pregnancy,  whilst  many  old  shepherds  have  vivid 
recollections  of  the  almost  heartrending  experience  they  had  to 
struggle  through  when  lambing  began.  The  loss  in  the  case  ot  the 
dairy  cow  arose  from  the  diminution  of  the  milk  supply,  which  would 
almost  cease,  never  to  be  even  nearly  regained  in  convalescence. 
Fatal  results  were  not  to  be  feared  in  cases  of  cattle  over  a  year 
old,  but  calves  were  difficult  to  bring  back  to  a  state  of  health  if 
seriously  attacked.  For  the  information  of  those  who  have  not  been 
familiar  with  this  disease,  the  symptoms  are  lameness,  caused  by 
inflammation  in  the  hoof,  and  frothing  and  running  saliva,  caused  by 
a  similar  state  of  thing  in  the  mouth ;  the  latter  symptom  is  generally 
noticed  before  the  lameness. 
The  disease  is  simply  a  fever,  and  is  caused  by  a  bacillus,  but 
whether  it  can  be  induced  by  a  state  of  low  nutrition,  accompanied 
by  overdriving  and  insanitary  conditions,  has  not  been  proved,  though 
many  people  believe  it  can  be.  At  any  rate,  when  the  epidemic  was 
at  its  height  it  found  genial  soil  for  development  in  the  droves  of  store 
cattle  brought  long  distances  and  badly  fed,  whilst  being  mercilessly 
driven  from  market  to  market.  Our  experience  in  treating  the  disease 
teaches  the  adoption  of  a  negative  policy,  except  in  the  case  of  very 
young  animals.  Older  cattle  will  go  through  the  stages  of  the  com¬ 
plaint  best  if  they  are  let  alone.  Cleanliness  and  ventilation  must  be 
attended  to,  but  little  else  need  be  done.  For  a  few  days,  when  the 
complaint  is  at  its  hdght,  the  animal  will  have  little  desire  to  eat,  and 
should  not  be  forced.  It  should  have  a  small  supply  of  finely  crushed 
linseed  cake  within  reach,  and  also  a  little  very  soft  hay.  This  is  the 
first  thing  the  beast  will  fancy  when  it  has  got  a  turn  for  the  better 
and  the  disappearance  of  the  hay  may  be  taken  as  a  symptom  that 
the  worst  is  over.  As  soon  as  he  is  better  he  will  amply  make  up  for 
lost  time  as  regards  eating.  In  cases  of  great  debility  oatmeal  gruel 
may  be  given,  but  only  in  cases  of  leal  necessity,  for  the  use  of  the 
horn  must  have  a  very  irritating  effect  on  the  mouth.  Eecipes  to 
aid  the  curative  processes  of  Nature  are  : — 
“Honey,  1  lb.  ;  muriatic  acid,  oz. ;  mix  them  well.  Apply  a 
small  dessertspoonful  to  the  tongue  three  times  a  day,  leaving  the 
animal  to  distribute  it  over  the  mouth  by  the  champing  motion  which 
is  sure  to  follow  its  application.” 
“  For  the  feet,  take  aloes  i  oz.,  rectified  spirit  2  pint,  alum  ^  oz. ; 
dissolve  them  in  I  pint  of  water ;  mix,  and  apply  a  little  twice  a  day 
between  the  claws. 
Hyposulphite  of  soda  is  a  good  thing,  4  ozs.  being  given  dissolved 
in  water  to  each  animal  twice  a  week. 
We  are  glad  to  notice  from  the  latest  reports  that  there  have  been 
no  further  cases,  and  hope  that  the  outbreak  may  soon  be  stamped  out. 
Surely  it  cannot  be  necessary  to  go  to  the  extremity  of  ordering  com¬ 
pulsory  slaughter.  Our  view  is  that  sufficiently  stringent  isolation 
and  disinfection  should  be  efiBcacious  in  preventing  the  spread  of  the 
disease.  Local  authorities  ought  to  have  full  discretion  as  to  deciding 
upon  slaughter  or  otherwise;  but  the  burden  of  enforcing  the  regu¬ 
lations  as  to  isolation  should  also  rest  on  their  shoulders ;  the  rules 
should  be  very  stringent,  and  local  inspectors  be  made  responsible  for 
any  laxity. 
Sl|ow  Prize  Money. 
Looking  carefully  through  the  prize  lists  at  the  recent  horse  shows* 
we  are  struck  with  the  fact  that  such  a  large  proportion  of  the  prizes, 
especially  of  the  leading  prizes,  goes  into  the  pockets  of  men  of  great 
wealth.  Naturally  this  is  only  to  be  expected,  for  many  of  the  animals 
are  purchased  for  large  sums  from  the  breeders  expressly  with  a  view 
to  winning  these  prizes.  That  such  ambition  on  the  pait  of  wealthy 
men  does  much  to  encourage  breeding  is  obvious,  but  we  must 
confess  to  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  when  we  see  the  name  of  a  tenant 
farmer  occupying  the  place  of  honour  in  connection  with  an  animal 
of  his  own  breeding. 
Work  oi|  the  Home  Farm, 
We  are  enjoying  beautifully  dry  sunny  weather,  and  prospects  of 
spring  work  are  much  brighter.  Here  and  there  we  see  a  drill  at 
work,  but  have  seen  nothing  very  satisfactory  in  that  line  yet. 
Wheats  are  looking  well  though  backward  ;  there  has  been  little  loss 
of  root,  and  the  large  rain  and  snow  falls  have  solidified  the  land 
and  almost  done  away  with  any  necessity  for  rolling.  Now  the 
surface  is  dry,  however,  the  two-horse  Cambridge  roll  taken  over  the 
ground  once  will  do  good  and  prepare  it  for  a  good  harrowing.  With 
a  full  plant  and  some  to  spare  it  is  always  good  policy  to  harrow 
Wheat ;  cn  light  soils,  where  weeds  are  numerous,  harrowing  is  almost 
a  necessity,  and  should  be  done  in  Februai’y.  This  was  quite  an 
impossibility  this  year,  but  now  the  land  is  dry  it  should  be  done  at 
once. 
The  Mangold  crop  has  proved  so  valuable  this  year  that  we  doubt 
not  that  a  larger  area  will  be  sown  this  spring.  In  six  weeks  time 
the  seed  should  be  sown,  and  as  a  good  mould  is  most  essential  to  the 
germination  and  successful  growth  of  Mangold  steps  must  be  taken 
at  once  to  prepare  the  ground  ;  for  this  crop  succeeds  best  on  heavy 
or  even  strong  soils,  and  such  are  not  now  in  a  very  promising  state. 
The  land  must  be  worked  at  once  with  the  cultivator,  rolled,  and  if 
there  is  any  twitch,  it  must  be  harrowed  out,  then  rolled  and  harrowed 
again.  If  the  land  be  e’ean,  as  it  should  be  for  Mangold,  drag  and 
roll,  then  harrow  and  roll,  wait  a  few  days,  and  repeat  the  process, 
always  leaving  the  surface  as  smooth  as  possible  to  avoid  loss  of 
moisture.  It  is  quick  drying  that  makes  clotty  surfaces.  If  the  land 
has  thus  been  deeply  stirred  in  March  and  the  surface  kept  close  it 
should  plough  over  in  a  nice  mellow  condition  by  mid-April.  This 
is  a  grand  time  for  planting  Potatoes,  and  farmers  who  cannot  get  on 
with  Barley  sowing  are  glad  to  get  their  Potatoes  put  in. 
We  again  urge  our  friends  to  sow  their  Clover  seeds  after  the  corn 
drill ;  there  is  no  other  sure  way  of  getting  a  good  plant  of  seeds. 
When  the  seeds  have  been  mixed  do  not  put  them  into  large  sacks 
but  into  small  parcels,  for  if  put  up  in  big  lots  the  heavy  seeds  are 
apt  to  gravitate  to  the  bottom  before  they  reach  the  field;  thus  if 
care  is  not  exercised  Clovers  may  be  sown  alone  in  one  part  of  the  field 
and  Ryegrass  in  another. 
Lambing  still  proceeds  satisfactorily,  the  only  drawback  being 
scarcitv  of  spring  keep.  Happy  is  the  man  who  has  a  good  plot  of 
Kale.  * 
- - 
Irish  or  American  Bacon. — The  inspector  of  the  Bacon  Curers’ 
Association  has  been  making  his  presence  felt  in  Dublin  lately.  On 
Wednesday  last  a  very  important  case  was  heard  in  which  the  large 
firm  of  Messrs.  Williams  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  were  summoned  at  the  suit  of  the 
Association  for  having  sold  an  American  ham  as  Irish.  The  police 
magistrate  (Mr.  Mahony)  took  a  very  severe  view  of  the  case,  and 
imposed  the  maximum  fine  of  £25,  with  £5  costs,  and  stated  that  if 
any  more  cases  of  the  kind  came  before  him  he  would  use  his  powers 
and  give  a  sentence  of  imprisonment  without  the  option  of  a  fine. — 
(“  Rural  World.) 
