§ MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, how many acres of hops have been cultivated this year and in 1907 in Great Britain; and whether so great a decrease in acreage has been recorded in any previous year.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. J. A. PEASE,for Sir EDWARD STRACHEY) Essex, Saffron Walden,The acreage under hops this year was 38,921 acres, as compared with 44,938 acres in 1907, a decrease of 6,019 acres. The decrease in 1887 as compared with 1886 was as much as 6,421 acres.