The only Conifer which commonly causes poisoning of live-stock is the Yew, but injury might more frequently occur were it not for the fact that Conifers generally are unpleasant to the taste, and are hence avoided by stock. Many species, however, contain _Tannin_, _Resins_ and _Gums_, _Volatile Oils_, and an acrid substance which may cause inflammation of the digestive and urinary tracts, while Tanret found in the young shoots of _Picea_ the bitter glucoside _Picein_ (C_{14}H_{18}O_{7}H_{2}O); Kawalier and Thal found the intensely bitter glucoside _Pinipicrin_ (C_{22}H_{36}O_{11}) in _Pinus sylvestris_, _Thuja occidentalis_ and _Juniperus Sabina_; and Kubel isolated _Coniferin_ or _Abietin_ (C_{16}H_{22}O_{8}), a slightly bitter glucoside found in _Abies excelsa_, _A. pectinata_, _Pinus strobus_, _Larix europæa_ and other conifers. It is not clear, however, whether these substances are at all poisonous. It is quite possible that if eaten in quantity the foliage of some Conifers may induce poisonous symptoms and even death in the animals concerned. It is noteworthy, however, that according to Pott the needles of _Picea excelsa_, _Abies pectinata_, _Larix europæa_, and _Pinus_ sp. are, in the mountainous districts of Steiermark, Kärnten, and Tyrol, extensively fed to cattle and sheep, usually as a supplementary food, either fresh or dried and ground up—chiefly perhaps as an appetiser, and in small quantities as a dietetic; _Juniperus_ sp. are similarly utilised in some districts. It is not known to what extent the foliage may be fed without harmful consequences, but Pott states that large quantities can cause hæmaturia and similar effects, and hence only small quantities should be used, and even so may impart a bad flavour to the milk of cows. All green needles frequently cause digestive troubles. A case has recently (January, 1916) been reported to the author in which a Douglas Fir was cut down and a small branch about 4 ft. long was flung over into a field. Two sheep nipped off the bark and nearly died, but both vomited and recovered. The farmer reporting this experience recalls that over 30 years ago, after a gale, a lot of trees were blown down in a small plantation, and in severe weather the sheep ate the bark to such an extent that 80 of them aborted, while of the ewes which did not eat the bark none aborted, so that it would appear that the bark of Scotch Fir and Spruce was to blame for the loss. The foliage of the Yew (_see_ below) is well known to be dangerously poisonous to stock, and has caused many losses. In regard to _Cupressus_ the only cases of poisoning which have been traced are recorded in _The Journal of the Board of Agriculture_ (October, 1905). These cases were reported as follows:—