COUNTRY LIFE WHAT gaps—what serious gaps, as it seems to
me—are found in our agricultural organisation, an experience of mine may indicate. Two of my hens died from an undiscovered cause. I at once motored off to the H.Q. of the agricultural committee and the County Farm Institute to discover the cause, chiefly for fear of an infectious or notifiable disease. The response was startling. I was told with crisp certainty that no official would look at the dead hen, much less touch it ; and that there was no official inspector or such in that quarter of England who would consent to make investigation. It was useless to enquire anywhere else. The reason for this refusal to help seems to be a fear that official authorities may spread the latest infectious disease, with the result that the public is left to spread it uncontrolled! The poultry industry, whether practised amateur or professional, is of great national importance. It cannot but be a grievous lapse to refuse expert advice to those who need it and may unconsciously spread dangerous diseases. In any case expert advice should be locally available.
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