1920.] Replies to Questions in Parliament 1259 



Sulphato of Ammonia. — Replying to a question of Mr. Acland, the 

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture stated that 

 under the existing arrangements the export of sulphate of ammonia was 

 prohibited except under licence, an the price at which this material 

 was sold by manufacturers and the Ministry of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries. In regard to the future, the question was receiving the very 

 close consideration of the Ministry with a view to securing adequate 

 supplies of sulphate of ammonia and other fertilisers at reasonable 

 prices after the close of the present season. (19th February 1920.) 



Foot-and-Mouth Disease. — In reply to a question by Sir R. Cooper, 

 the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture stated that 

 there had been 28 initial outbreaks of invasion of Foot-and-]Mouth 

 Disease in England and Wales, from which 87 additional premises, 

 contiguous or in the immediate vicinity, had become infected, making 

 a total of 115 premises actually infected with the disease. With the 

 exception of one case in Wales, all the outbreaks had occurred in Eng- 

 land and Wales. 



Each centre of initial invasion had been successfullj^ eradicated 

 and general dissemination of infection prevented. The Ministry's 

 officers conducted a searching cross-examination of the owner and atten- 

 dants of the affected animals with regard to each initial outbreak, but 

 so far no connection had been traced. The spread of the disease to 

 premises in the immediate vicinity of an initial outbreak had been 

 traced to contaminated attendants,, feeding stuffs, water, and to in- 

 fected animals which changed hands before the iMinistry's officers took 

 charge. (3rd March, 1920.) 



Waste Land Roolamrition, — In reply to a question by Mr. Doyle, 

 the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture stated that 

 works were now being carried out for the reclamation of land in the 

 neighbourhood of Wainfleet, on the northern shore of the Wash. Several 

 schemes for the reclamation of land were prepared subsequent to the 

 Armistice, with a view to finding employment for demobilised men. 

 In view, however, of the urgent need for the curtailment of all public 

 expenditure, it was recently decided that none of these schemes, other 

 than that already referred to, should be proceeded with, (ist ]\Iarch, 

 1920.) 



Live Stock. In reply to a question by Brigadier-General Colvin, 



the Parliamentary Secretary to the IMinistry of Agriculture stated tliat 

 the Ministry were in constant communication with the Ministry ^of 

 Food as to the slaughter of young stock, but in view of the comparative 

 failure of the various Orders that had been made with the object of 

 restricting slaughter it was considered undesirable to make any further 

 Order of the kind at present. It was hoped that the situation would 

 right itself when meat was decontrolled, but if not the matter would be 

 further considered, (ist March, 1920.) 



Tomato-grrowing:. — In reply to a question by Mr. Gwynne, the 

 Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture stated that 

 he could not agree that the tomato-growing industry was in any way 

 overlooked by his Department. A grant was made to the Lea Valley 

 Research Station, where many matters concerning the production ^of 

 tomatoes were dealt with. The technical officers of the Department 

 were fully qualified to deal with questions of culture, packing, grading 



