§ 38 and 63. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware of the shortage of calcium cyanide for preventing eel-worm in potatoes; and if sufficient quantities are not available from Norway or elsewhere, will he consider the desirability of providing facilities for a factory to produce this fertiliser in Newport;
(2) whether he is aware that allotment holders in Newport are being caused serious loss by the prevalence of eel-worm in potato crops; and if he will arrange to have supplies of calcium cynanide or other suitable cure available to remedy such menace.
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Thomas Williams)I am aware that potato root eel-worm is a serious pest in many allotment areas where potatoes are grown year after year on the same land. No chemical treatment that is effective and economic is at present known for the control of this pest. The only satisfactory procedure on infested land is to adopt a rotation in which potatoes are grown not more than once in three or four years.