§ Mr. G. Jegerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make a further statement showing the development of experimental husbandry farms 199W and horticulture stations; and when financial accounts and results of the work already done are to be published.
Mr. T. WilliamsIt is proposed to establish in England and Wales 17 experimental husbandry farms and six experimental horticulture stations including a National Fruit Variety Testing Station. The National Agricultural Advisory Service will be responsible for their direction and management. Six farms have so far been acquired and also a site for the National Fruit Variety Testing Station, while negotiations are well advanced for two properties for use as experimental horticulture stations.
These farms and stations are intended to provide extended facilities for investigation and to enable research workers to test their results under different environments and practical farming conditions. The financial results therefore would have no basis of comparison with those of holdings run as commercial units and it is not proposed to publish accounts. Reports on the experimental work and the results obtained at the several centres will be published as appropriate from time to time.