1921.] MiMsTUY OF Agriculture's Exhibits, 1920. 



7 



ing of the General Assembly was held in November last and 

 this was the first for seven years, the operations of the Insti- 

 tute having been curtailed by the War. 



During the War it was impossible for the }>[iiiistiy of 

 Agric'iuaire to be represented iit Agricultural IShows, but 



The Ministr ^'^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^S suspended effort was 

 ... . ,^ . resumed and an af^ricultural exhibit was 

 of Agriculture's ^ ^ . ^■ r xi_ i j- a • i 



Exhibits durin^ ^^^n^^ thirteen of the leading Agricul- 

 -iftft/x ■« f tural Shows in England and Wales. 

 1920 : Proposals .... -^r- • . 1 1 



fo'' 1921 \\ herever the Ministry was able to 



secure adequate representation, the public 

 response w^as very definite. Not only were farmers present in 

 large numbers in search of information, but they took full 

 advantage of the leaflets and other publications that were on 

 offer. 



In addition to a purely agricultural exhibit, the ^Ministry 

 extended its interest to the horticultural side of food produc- 

 tion, and was represented on forty-five occasions by an 

 exhibit either at Horticultural Shows or in leading country 

 markets. This new^ departure w^as designed in the first 

 instance for the benefit of the smallholder, whose methods 

 do not keep pace with his enthusiasms and whose opportunities 

 for acquiring wider knowledge of sound method are few. 

 This exhibit has now been enlarged and its scope broadf ned, 

 and it is sufficiently comprehensive to provide a good deal 

 of help and guidance, even for the advanced fruit grower. 

 Among the subjects on which information is given through 

 this medium are reliable fruit stocks, pollination and 



reversion " of black currants, the preservation, grading, 

 packing and storage of fruit, the history of insect pests 

 and fungoid diseases, and the value and methods of apicul- 

 ture. In addition to the ordinary exhibit, a special one 

 has been provided to show^ the results of investigations of 

 Wart Disease as carried out at the Potato Testing Station at 

 Ormskirk. Not only have specimens of diseased potatoes been 

 on view, but there have been specimens of those immune 

 varieties that may, when fully accepted by the industry, enable 

 this country to show a clean bill of health. It is proposed 

 during the season now about to open to provide an exhibit at 

 thirtv Aizricultural, Fat Stock and Horticultural Shows. 



