§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland whether he is aware that potato blight has already made its appearance in certain districts in Ireland; and whether it is proposed to take any, and is so, what steps with a view to prevent the spread of the disease should occasion arise.
§ MR. PLUNKETTThe heavy rains during the past month in Ireland have unfortunately been unfavourable to the potato crop, but so far I have not received any official information as to the appearance of blight. In view of the condition of the weather, the Department communicated to the public press throughout the country on the 20th June, a circular letter drawing attention to the danger of disease in the potato crop, and impressing on farmers the great necessity for taking action at once for the prevention of blight by carefully spraying their crops. Large 646 numbers of leaflets containing directions on the subject of spraying have also been distributed, and placards on the same subject are about to be extensively posted up in conspicuous places throughout the country. The matter will continue to be carefully watched by the Department.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs it the intention of the Department to carry out any experiments with a view to discovering the best remedy for the potato disease?
§ MR. PLUNKETTExperiments have been carried out in Ireland for the last three or four years in order to find out the best means of combating the disease.