§ Mr. WELLSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many imported Dutch trees or shrubs on sale in auction markets have recently been condemned by his inspectors for disease; whether cases of rust in berberis aquifolia have been reported; if so, from what markets; and whether this disease in berberis is danger to wheat crops grown in this country?
§ Sir J. GILMOURDisease has been found recently on Dutch trees or shrubs on sale or intended for sale in auction markets at Bedford and Northampton: all the affected bushes were burned, but I regret that I am unable to state the precise number. In each case a species of rust was discovered on Berberis Aquifolium. Only in very rare cases does Berberis Aquifolium act as a host plant in one stage of the life history of one of the three rusts which attack wheat.