THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 25 June 1937, Page 4

THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 3rd June. One may take it for granted that the farmers will not be satisfied with the assistance which the Government proposes to afford to their industry. The fact remains, however, that their degree of satisfaction is much greater than they ever expected it to be. No man who knows anything about the cultivation of the lai d—even if that knowledge be no wider than the area of his own back-garden—will dispute the value of the Government’s offer to go half and half in paying the cost of lime and slag to be put into the ground. The traditional fertility of Albion has been largely due to the centuries old parctice of heavily charging the soil with lime. It is only in the post-war years that farmers have ceased to observe this custom, and in consequence a great deal of their land has become exhausted and lacking in its 'former fertility. The system by which this State assistance is to be extended is, I understand, to be quite simple in its organisation. Approved supplies of lime and slag wil 1 be appointed in every district. Farmers who buy supplies from them and will apply them to their land will be presented with certificates which will entitle them to the refund of 50 per cent, of the price paid for lime and 25 per cent of the cost of basic slag. As both fertilisers are home products the Ministry of Agriculture foresees no difficulty about keeping their price levels within reasonable limits.