§ 52. Mr. Hopkinasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now give the House the results of experiments in which red squill was used to kill moles; and, if the experiments were unsuccessful, will he now take steps to secure the release, if necessary under licence, of strychnine to farmers for the purpose of killing moles?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe field experiments to test the effectiveness of red squill and other substitutes for strychnine for killing moles, to which I referred in the reply to the question put by the hon. Member on 13th February last, have not yet been completed. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, it will take some considerable time to carry out the exhaustive tests contemplated, and as at the moment no results of these tests are available the second part of the question does not arise.
§ Mr. HopkinIs it possible for the House to know the right hon. Gentleman's own experience as regards red squill on his own farm?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am very much interested in the question.
§ Mr. McGovernWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us what is a red squill? Does it come from Moscow?