§ 38. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any useful result accrued in 1924–25 from experiments in the improvement of the sandy lands at Methwold, Norfolk, to justify the loss incurred of some £16,000 in that year and a total loss of about £45,000; and, if not, whether this undertaking will be closed down?
Mr. GUINNESSThe experiments at Methwold were brought to a close in March, 1925, because it had become clear, that in the present state of scientific knowledge, and under existing economic conditions, no useful purpose would be served by their continuance. This, in itself, was a useful result. It does not follow that the experiments were unjustified because the results were negative. A full report on the experiments is in preparation.