§ 35. Mr. WILESasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, having regard to the uncertainty which appears to be prevalent in some of the county sub-committees formed in connection with the Cultivation of Lands Order for the purpose of selecting grass land for ploughing, he will state whether it is their duty in making such selection to bear in mind the needs of the milch cows 302 and other horned stock at present on the farms, or whether the committees are to proceed without any consideration of the cattle?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Prothero)The agricultural executive committees have been constantly urged to consider the maintenance of milk production. The real dearth of cakes and other concentrated feeding-stuffs must in any ease reduce the numbers of fattening cattle in the country, but it should be remembered that a larger production of both meat and milk is practicable from arable land than from a corresponding acreage of grass. Moreover, as the Board have only asked for the ploughing of one-ninth of the total area of grass, there is no reason to fear that the practical men composing the agricultural executive committees will take such action as would unnecessarily injure the live-stock interest.