§ 95. Mr. KINGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether attention has been given to humogen, a form of specially treated peat manure, claimed by its inventor, Professor Bottomley, to have power to largely increase food production; and whether experiments are being made with this invention?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)Yes, Sir, and State Grants have been made in respect of the scientific side of Professor Bottomley's work, as I informed the hon. Member for North West-meath in reply to a similar question on the 11th instant. Practical experiments in the use of humogen for horticultural and agricultural purposes are being carried on at various institutions, but so far as I am aware no results have yet been obtained which demonstrate its utility for agricultural purposes on a field scale and on a commercial basis.
§ Mr. KINGDoes that answer refer to the experiments carried on at Kew, where great results were obtained?
§ Mr. ACLANDYes, Sir, it does.