§ Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in relation to a national policy of natural re-fertilisation of soil, he is developing an increase of humus by bacterial methods by the addition of urban domestic dust-bin refuse to farmyard manure; and, if so, in which agricultural districts?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithTown refuse, with and without admixture of farmyard manure, has been used to a limited extent by farmers particularly in the South-East of England. The lack of demand from farmers has led to the closing down of most of the special plants established by local authorities for the preparation of the refuse for use on the land. Further consideration, is however, now being given to this important matter by my Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Agricultural Research Council.