§ Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, since a large proportion of the oats to be planted this spring will never pass through seedsmen's hands, he will take steps to ensure that these are tested for germination, and are treated with one of the known compounds for the prevention of plant disease?
Mr. HudsonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his question on this subject on 20th February. The requirements of the Seeds Act apply equally to sales of seed oats by the grower or by the seedsman. Farmers sowing seed oats of their own production are under no obligation to have them tested for germination, but many of them, of their own accord, send samples to the official seed testing station, which tests them and supplies reports for the farmer's own guidance.