FOOT-ROT.

Otago Witness, Issue 930, 25 September 1869, Page 16

FOOT-ROT.

{Stark Lane Exprm ) It is" evident to tho practical stockman that the canso of foot-rot ia sheep is attributable to tho soil *nd pasture. For example, we have never known a case ooaur on the hard, mountainous distriotaof Feebkasbii*. Selkirk, shire, or Argyloshiro : but on very soft, ImmV load It abounds, in every country SS y w! *xo edutintad with. It prevails to » great extent among tho flocks in the fine grassy pastoral ranges of ltoxburahshiro and Dumfriesshire ; mm*«*» on some rich pastoral farm, in PeeblessWrTfc exists to a greater or lew extent j wherels upon bard heathery tami, jF»g it is unknown, although the %%%&£ ! intermixing. *g*Wj? £ve«w»t inftuenoompropsgatiogthodis. owe 8 For instance, tho wife summw of 1802 nork of this thtory they P° lnfe *° r 8 * iho ttatenwAt j b«t i* ***&? *» toooontea

for on v a common serisfn *i?Wb & $HJ * °f" c .- ? When the foot is diseasedl* and tender, itho aninjal^sets -it* more' freely to , ther ground? when the pasture is moietyaad, aoffc. ,r .This,;, hoover, .is'>nly J temporaTy,,relief ;.the,pain is, ' assuaged, but the disease,^aggravated., This f aotmay easily be ascertained by any one who practically comes .into. contact with foot roc. A lot of sheep affeoted witH the diseaseappear all very lame on a dry day. Shou'd rain begin to fall, they become apparently a good deal better ; but let them, be caught and examined, and it will be seen that the, disease is progressing ; or let a dry, day recur,, and the lameness returns in a more aggravated' form. There are no doubt f anna so situated that the growth of grass is most luxuriant in dry seasons ; and in some such exceptional oases foot- rot may then prevail to a greater degree.

Agricultural Implements.— The English Farmer of 9th June says :— " Agricultural implement manufacturers are busily engaged at present in making mowers and reapers ; and there will again be a keen competition between the leading makers at the great forthcoming exhibitions. The combined reaper and mower is a desideratum, and manufacturers profess to bring them out with such improvements as are likely to supersede the single machines of former days. Many farmers still cling to the old system of reaping their crops by the sickle and scythe, on the plea that no advantage is gained by the « reaper ; but the annually extending area of crops cut down by them offers prima facie evidence of their benefit from a commercial stand point* A paper on the harvesting of corn, recently published, in which the comparative costs of cutting the crops by the sickle, the scythe, and the reaping machine are given. The first is stated at 10s per acre ; the second, at 7s 6d ; and that by the reaper at 4s 2sd. The writer says, on comparing the costs between cutting with the sickle and the reaper, that the saving on 100 acres would be nearly equal to the prime cost of a machine ; and this is no doubt a fair statement of the subject."

"What Farmers Cannot Conceal.— A poor farmer cannot conceal the fact that he is a poor farmer. All his surroundings proclaim the verdict against him :— his horses, cattle, wagons, harness," ploughs, femes fields— even his wife and children bear silent, but unmistakable evidence against him. On the other hand, all these things will testify favorably on behalf of the good farmer. Every passer-by can read the evidence pro or con. This fact, alone, ought to stimulate every farmer to do his best, for the sake of his own character, as well as interest: for he may rest assured that every passer-by will pronounce judgment according to the evidence.

Fresh Eggs.— A little raw meat, cut up into small bits, rolled in black pepper, and fed to the hens about three times a week, will soon make a very sensible addition to the egg deposit. Give them somo green food at least once a week -cabbage or lettuce chopped up fine. They will more than repay you for this attention. Water them with warm or tepid water, not as Paddy said, " to make them lay boiled eggs," but to increase the inward warmth, and not chill it.