HC Deb 31 October 1916 vol 86 c1540
121. Captain CHARLES BATHURST

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state the reasons for the sudden inability of Denmark to provide Great Britain with cocksfoot and rough-stalked meadow grass seed necessary to most grass mixtures for sowing pastures and usually grown for the British market in large quantities by Danish formers; and what steps the Board propose to take to supply the deficiency?

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

The prohibition of export of grass seeds from Denmark extends to all countries and is understood to be due to shortage of supply in that country. It is not possible to say to what extent we have hitherto depended on Denmark for the two grasses named, but our import from Denmark during the last two years has been rather more than 10 per cent, of our total import of all grass and clover seeds. Cocksfoot grass is grown in New Zealand and in this country, but no doubt there will be a shortage of seed owing to the discontinuance of the Danish supply. As, however, the chief value of this seed is for permanent pasture, and it is to be hoped that at present very little land will be turned to this use, the lack of cocksfoot ought not to be seriously felt. Rough-stalked meadow grass seed is relatively of minor importance.