§ Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many acres were agreed upon with the Sussex War Agricultural Committee to be broken up; how many acres have already been ploughed; how many remain to be ploughed; and whether the whole acreage agreed to be freshly brought under tillage will be broken up before the end of the year?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe two agricultural executive committees in Sussex have been asked to secure an increase in the 399W corn area of 65,000 acres over the 1916 area. It is estimated that this will necessitate the breaking up of 55,000 acres of permanent grass. Figures are not yet available as to the quantity of land scheduled, but the committees have been asked to supply them as soon as possible. Until the spring ploughing and sowing are complete it will be impossible to state the extent to which the allotted task is fulfilled. Its accomplishment must necessarily depend largely on the weather and on supplies of labour and of tractor fuel.