§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture-whether it is true that the Hessian Fly has appeared in the neighbourhood of Grantham; and what steps will be taken by the wide-spread diffusion of information, and by other means, to meet the danger which threatens the corn-growing counties?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordWe have received no complaints as yet of the presence of the Hessian Fly in the course of the present summer in the neighbourhood of Grantham. But inquiries are now being made by the Board as to the truth of the statements which have appeared in certain newspapers respecting the appearance of the fly in that district and elsewhere. Repeated information has been circulated by the Board of Agriculture as to the methods to be employed in recognising and dealing with this insect plague. I have already desired that Circulars on the subject shall be re-issued, and every effort will be made to spread information on the subject as widely as possible, with the view of 349 counteracting as far as possible any danger from that source which may threaten the corn-growing counties.