458 



Report of the Intelligence Department. [Aug., 



Horticulture. — The War revealed the need for greater atten- 

 tion to horticulture, not only because of the increase in small- 

 holdings and allotments, but in connection with the " normal " 

 industry — the large scale cultivation of fruit and vegetables — 

 which greatly needs technical assistance. The Horticulture 

 Division has therefore been enlarged, and a Controller of Hor- 

 ticulture has been appointed, and is assisted by the Horticul- 

 tural Advisory Council, representing all sections of the industry. 

 Fundamental investigations are conducted at the research 

 stations at Long Ashton, East Mailing and Waltham Cross. 

 Demonstration fruit and vegetable plots have been established 

 in most counties under the control of Local Education Autho- 

 rities. A survey of orchards in the west of England, many of 

 which are greatly neglected, was carried out as a preliminary 

 to demonstrating the Deed for renovation. By these and other 

 means the standard of horticultural education throughout the 

 country has been raised. Another important side of the work 

 had regard to plant diseases and the administration of the 

 Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, and a full account of the 

 action taken appears in the Report. 



Live Stock Improvement. — The Live Stock Branch ad- 

 ministers, inter alia, the Ministry's live stock and horse breeding 

 schemes, under which grants or premiums are awarded to 

 secure the provision of bulls, boars and horses, and to en- 

 courage the keeping of milk records. These schemes have been 

 in operation for some years, and their success in raising the 

 quality of stock and showing the importance of using good sires 

 is generally accepted and appreciated. A marked development 

 in milk recording is reported, records being kept of 61,300 cows 

 in 1919-20 and 38,000 in 1918-19, as compared with 20,000 in 

 the preceding year. 



Dairying. — Under the head of Dairying the Report describes 

 the action taken in encouraging the formation of milk depots, 

 to deal with surplus milk, and of cheese schools, whether 

 travelling or co-operative. The establishment of a co-operative 

 cheese school has in nearly all cases resulted in the local 

 farmers forming a registered co-operative dairy society, with 

 successful results. A small experimental factory at Haslington, 

 near Crewe, was set up to discover whether it is commercially 

 practicable to convert whey (an undesirable by-product in cheese 

 factories) into lactose. The experiment has not gone far enough 

 to justify a decision. Three experimental arable dairy holdings 

 have been established to test the commercial possibilities of 



