asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can state how many acres of wheat planted in the winter of 1936 and spring of 1937 had to be ploughed up and sown with other crops, and how many acres of wheat are still unripe and unfit for harvesting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Growing of Wheat.
Although I am aware that in some cases land sown with wheat had to be ploughed up and sown with other crops and that some fields of wheat have not ripened properly, I am not in a position to give even approximately any figures as to the total area affected.
Does the Minister accept responsibility for the staggering losses these farmers have suffered as a result of taking his deplorable advice to grow more wheat?
I do not accept the Deputy's complexion of the case at all.
Does the Minister accept responsibility for the persons who he says had to plough up wheat crops that failed and for the persons who have acres of wheat standing green and unfit for sale in the month of November? Heavy silence from the Minister!
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what is the average yield per statute acre of wheat harvested and threshed in 1937 to date.
There are not, as yet, available any official statistics as to the average yield of wheat of the 1937 crop.
Has the Minister any statistics, official or otherwise, or has he an opinion which he could offer to the House as to what the average yield this year has been?
I am not like the Deputy —I do not give my opinion until it is worth giving.
You will never give it so.