HC Deb 17 May 1916 vol 82 cc1526-7
95. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the lapse of the practice of liming the land in Wales and the West and North-West of England, and the consequent loss of fertility in those areas, the Board of Agriculture will arrange with the war agriculture committees, the Agricultural Organisation Committee, and other such bodies for an active propaganda in those districts where the land is most deficient in lime, and, having ascertained the requirements of the farmers, arrange with some central body for the purchase and delivery of a sufficient supply to the most suitable railway stations?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)

The Board are not prepared to take the action suggested, as most practical farmers are already aware of the advantages to be obtained from the use of lime. The Board have no reason to suppose that farmers are unable to make their own arrangements to satisfy their requirements, and under these circumstances are unwilling to take any action which would involve unnecessary use of rolling stock.

Mr. LEIF JONES

Will the Board of Agriculture make further inquiries into this matter?

Mr. ACLAND

The advantages of lime are clearly understood by farmers, and I do not think that action of the kind is necessary.