31 AUGUST 1956, Page 29

By IAN NIALL FOOT-AND-MOUTH disease and the restriction on the

movement of cattle have resulted in agri- cultural shows and sheep-dog trials in our part of the country being cancelled. The local markets are affected, too, and this, added to the wet harvest in which the scythe is coming into its own again, has had a somewhat depressing effect on the farming community. fouled. Talking about that old foot-and- mouth epidemic, which some locals say put the farmers on their feet when compensation was paid, I was amused to hear, by way of confirmation of this, that the disease bene- fited a blacksmith who plied his trade here. Inquiring about this I was told, !Oh, he packed it up. The farmers got their money and paid all their old debts. They owed the smith so much he was able to retire!'