§ 23. Mr. BOLANDasked whether arrangements have been made to secure the necessary amount of spraying material in view of the increased area of tillage which is being planted with potatoes?
§ Mr. RUSSELLArrangements have been made (as intimated on 7th ultimo. in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for North Monaghan) by the Department of Agriculture whereby 2558 sufficient supplies of spraying material will be available to meet the requirements of farmers in Ireland this season, provided the materials are ordered without further delay and that delivery is taken at once. This course has been urged upon both farmers and merchants by means of Press notices, circulars to traders, and the issue of special leaflets.
§ Captain DONELANCan the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he proposes to take with a view to ensuring that this spraying material shall be of the proper quality?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe material will be tested before it goes to Ireland. The great point is that farmers and merchants shall place their orders at once, because French and Italian purchasers are in the market.
§ Sir PHILLIP MAGNUSWill the spraying material be supplied even if the spraying machine is not available?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI am not quite sure, but I do not think that spraying material would toe much use without the spraying machine. The Department has provided for 5,000 spraying machines to reach Ireland in good time.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs there a fixed price in Ireland for soda and sulphate of copper for spraying, and, if so, is it from the right hon. Gentleman's Department or from some other Department that Irish merchants must apply for this material?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThere is a fixed price, and the merchants are quite aware as to the source to which they ought to apply.
§ Captain DONELANCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any analysis will be guaranteed?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI think that is further than I should like to go, but we shall take every precaution to see that the material is of the proper quality.