§ MR. MURNAGHANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that up to the present no steps have been taken by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland to enable farmers to gain a knowledge of their soils and the nutritive elements needed for full productiveness, notwithstanding the desire for this help to husbandry; and will he consider the desirability of establishing a testing-place in connection with the Department whereat the farmers of the country can have soils, seeds, and manures analysed at nominal charges.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe Department have already established a seed-testing station at which farmers can have their 594 seeds tested for purity, germination, and germinating energy, at small fees. Provision is made in the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1893, for the analy sis by district analysts of the local authorities of soil fertilisers and of feeding stuffs. The Department have suggested to the local authorities that they should arrange for the systematic taking of samples for analysis by their analysts; and have promised to contribute a proportion of the cost that may be so incurred. The Department will await the result of their recommendation to the local authorities before deciding what further action, if any, should be taken. The question of the analysis of soils is under consideration.