§ 68. Colonel Wheatleyasked the Minister, of Agriculture if he is aware that, as recently as last September, another plantation at Ferndown, Dorset, of healthy trees, was burned; and if he will make a statement on this policy of planting trees and then destroying them.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsNo plantation was burned at Ferndown, Dorset, last September; but certain surplus nursery stock was burned. Planting requirements must be anticipated three or four years ahead by raising stocks in nurseries, but owing to unpredictable factors there is, at times, a stock surplus to all requirements.
§ Colonel WheatleyDoes the Minister consider this to be good planning?
§ Mr. WilliamsI believe it is sound planning to make adequate preparations in advance even though on odd occasions some plants have to be destroyed because they are too old for replanting.
§ Colonel WheatleyIs the Minister aware that a great many acres of seedlings were destroyed?
§ Mr. WilliamsThey were not seedlings, since they were five or six years of age.