1920.] 



Official Notices. 



1261 



The mild weather has been beneficial to live stock, and they have 

 improved during February in some districts, though they are frequently 

 in'poor condition. Keep is still scarce but is lasting out better than 

 was anticipated. 



There is practically no change in the labour situation. In nearly all 

 districts there are sufficient men available, but many are unskilled, and 

 more trained horsemen and cattlemen are required. 



Pricas of Ground Basic Slag*. — In consideration of the increase in 

 the cost of production, and of the higher railway rates which have now 

 to be paid on the raw materials, fuel, bags. 

 Official Notices. etc., the Ministry has authorised basic slag 

 makers to withdraw the rebates of 2s., 3s., and 

 45. per ton previously allowed for deliveries made during March, 

 April, and May, respectively. 



The agreed maximum prices for ground basic slag delivered in 

 March, April and May, 1920, will, therefore, be the same as those ruling 

 from I st September, 1919, to 2Qth February, 1920. In all other respects 

 the prices and conditions of sale amnounced in the notice F.P. 493/8.1* 

 remain in force until 31st May, 1920. 



Advisory Committee on Steam Cultivation and Thresliingr. — The 



Rt. Hon. the Lord Lee of Fareham, G.B.E., K.C.B., Minister of Agri- 

 culture and Fisheries, has appointed a Standing Committee to advise 

 the Ministry on all questions affecting the steam cultivation and steam 

 threshing industries in England and Wales. The Committee will be 

 constituted as follows : ]\Ir. H. L. French, O.B.E., one of the Assistant 

 Secretaries of the Ministry [Chairman) ; Mr. John Allen, O.B.E. ( Vice' 

 Chairman) ; Mr. A. M. Cole ; Mr. F. M. Elgar ; Mr. Pearce Ellis ; 

 Mr. James Falconer, M.B.E. ; Mr. Percy Grundy ; Mr. J. N. C. Bay, 

 and Mr. George Thurlow. 



The Secretary of the Committee is Mr. C. S. Good (Ministry of Agri- 

 culture and Fisheries, 72, Victoria Street, S.W. i), to whom all com- 

 munications should be addressed. 



Foot-and-Mouth Disease. — Since the issue of last month's Journal, 

 outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease have been confirmed in t^ o fresh 

 centres, namely : — 



Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. — The first outbreak in this District 

 was confirmed on the 12th February at Leckliampton, near Cheltenham. 

 The usual Order prohibiting the movement of animals over a wide area 

 was issued on the same day. These restrictions have been considerably 

 modified. Unfortunately, on the 27th February, an outbreak occurred 

 on premises at Ripple, near Tewkesbury, about 15 miles to the north 

 of Leckhampton, which necessitated the re-imposition of the entire 

 prohibition of movement over an area covering a radius of about seven 

 miles around these premises. No further outbreaks in this District have 

 occurred since that date. 



* See tliis Journal^ June, 1919, p. 337. 



