§ 49. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Agriculture what effect the recent blowing of fen land is likely to have upon the cropping programmes involved this year; and if he will consider before next Autumn whether the time has come for a carefully prepared cropping policy in the Fens that will ensure proper conservation of the soil.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI am advised that blowing of fen lands has not been abnormal this season, and does not justify any modification in cropping plans. In drawing up cropping programmes, any special circumstances in particular localities are always taken into consideration
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the Minister aware that, in the opinion of many experienced farmers, the blowing of fen 1733 land, if it goes on, will create a great danger that the peat will disappear altogether, and the fertility of the soil as well, and will he do something about it?
§ Mr. WilliamsMy information is that the blowing this year has been greatly exaggerated in some newspapers.
§ Mr. StubbsIs the Minister aware that the solution to the blowing of fen land lies in gaulting the land and heavy rolling, and that where this is done in the Fens of Cambridgeshire, farmers have had little trouble?