§ Captain BARINGasked whether the Board of Agriculture is fully equipped, both financially and scientifically, for conducting inquiries into the diseases affecting bees?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYYes, Sir.
§ Captain BARINGasked whether the agricultural departments of several foreign governments have bee farms of their own for purposes of investigation and research; and whether he will consider the desirability of following their example?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Hungarian Government have a State Bee Farm which, however, has for its object instruction in bee-keeping rather than investigation and research. In Berlin the Imperial Biological Institute conducts investigations into bee diseases. I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Captain BARINGasked what immediate steps his Department is taking to collect further information on the Isle of Wight bee disease?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe Board's Inspectors are collecting very detailed information from bee-keepers as to all the various circumstances connected with outbreaks of the disease, and we are making arrangements for its further scientific investigation at Cambridge under the charge of Dr. Graham Smith.