§ 58. Colonel Wheatleyasked the Minister of Agriculture how much has been expended by the Forestry Commission at West Moors, Dorset, on the seedling nursery; how many seedlings have been sold; how many burnt; and what has been the average amount of labour employed at this establishment.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsDuring the current season £2,056, including £1,274 on direct labour, has been expended at the nursery to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. 69,000 seedlings and transplants have been sold to the trade, and 76,000 of the surplus stocks, which the trade could not absorb and which would have been too big for use next season, have been burnt. The average labour employed at this establishment is one foreman, 21 other adults and six juveniles.
§ Colonel WheatleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of this land is heath land, and that it has been 825 ploughed, cleaned, and sown at least three times; and that when they at last got a crop the seedlings have been pulled out, bundled, and then burned?
§ Mr. WilliamsPerhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman is not aware that in this area there are at the moment not fewer than 2,500,000 seedlings.