§ MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, In how many counties of England, Scotland, and Wales official information has been received of the appearance of the Hessian fly; whether its presence has also been reported in Ireland; what steps, if any, besides issuing warnings to Local Authorities, were taken, with a view of stamping out this agricultural pest in its commencement, by the Government when the Hessian fly's appearance was first reported last year; and, what steps are being taken to meet the now widely-spread danger to corn crops, and to check, if not too late, its further development?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY (Lord JOHN MANNERS) (Leicestershire, E.)Official information of the presence of the Hessian fly has been received from 19 counties in England, and seven in Scotland. No information has been received of its presence in Ireland or Wales. No steps were taken last year 1350 beyond issuing warning notices in August, September, and November, as already described, and it is difficult to see what other action could have been taken. During this year Circulars warning farmers of the danger, and giving practical methods of meeting it, have been widely circulated by means of the Local Authorities and the Press. The only other possible action would be to apply to Parliament for powers to compel farmers to plough in or burn stubble with or without seeds, and to burn infested straw, and to pay compensation for the losses so incurred; which action would probably be altogether inoperative, owing to the widespread nature of the attack, and the difficulty of detecting the presence of the insect. Practical farmers are opposed to such a course, and the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, at their last meeting, were also against it. In Russia, Congresses were convened by the Government, composed of farmers and experts, who discussed the best mode of getting rid of the insect; but neither in Russia nor in America were any compulsory measures adopted. As before stated, a small Commission has been appointed here to inquire into the extent of the attack and the amount of loss caused by it, as far as possible; and when their Report is received it will be immediately laid before Parliament.