CURRENT QUESTIONS

[So far as space permits questions from 1 eaders, particularly those arising out of articles in THE SPECTATOR, and dealing with fact, not opinion, will be answered on this page week by week] i. What is " dirtless farming "—the novel system of farming devised by Professor Gericke of California ?

The definition given by Lancelot Hogben in his Science for the Citizen is as good as any : " The production of crops in shallow tanks of water to which the necessary chemical fertilizers have been added. The seeds are sown in a layer of sawdust or moss on wire netting just above the water, into which the roots grow."

2. Has Germany actually repudiated any debt yet, Austrian or another ?

There has been no actual repudiation. Though Germany has defaulted on her payments into the Young Loan sinking fund, she has hitherto regularly paid the interest due on the loan.

3. In " The Spectator " of lune 17th you quote Bismarck as having said " Who rules Bohemia is master of Europe." Has any ruler of Bohemia been master of Europe since the time of Charlemagne ?

The Emperor Charles V probably came nearest to deserving the title.

4. What is a Parliamentary " Blue Book," and what is a " White Paper " ?

Strictly speaking, the name " White Paper " was reserved till recent years for documents circulated primarily to Members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, while " command papers "—reports of Royal Commissions, &c.—were produced with blue covers. There is, however, no distinction between the two today.

5. What is the Committee Stage and what the Report Stage of a Bill before Parliament ?

The " second reading," which consists of a general dis- cussion on the principle of the Bill, is followed by a " com- mittee stage " during which the clauses and amendments moved .-Ja them are discussed point by point. The " report stage " takes place when the Bill, as it emerges from the committee discussion, is again discussed by the House ; this gives an opportunity for further amendments, usually of a drafting character, to be moved. Finally the " third reading " follows.

6. What is the present strength of the navy of (a) the Spanish Government, (b) the insurgents ?

After the sinking of the Nationalist cruiser Canarias ' by Government aeroplanes the Nationalist navy was composed of two cruisers, one destroyer, one torpedo boat, three gun- boats, two or three minelayers and a few armed merchantmen. (This does not include any German or Italian ships which may at different times have co-operated with the Nationalists). The Government navy included three cruisers, twelve flotilla-leaders, two smaller destroyers, five torpedo boats, seven submarines, two gunboats and a minesweeping flotilla. There appears to have been no change since the date when the Canarias ' was sunk.

7. In " The Spectator " of lune 17th the tomato is referred to in one place as a fruit and in another as a vegetable. Which is it, and what is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable ?

The Oxford English Dictionary describes the tomato both as a fruit and as a vegetable. Its definitions fail to make any appreciable distinction between " vegetable " and " fruit," referring to the latter in its collective sense as " vegetable products fit for food."

9. The figures given in last week's " Spectator " are much higher than those given in " The Times " by Sir William Beveridge for the proportion of undergraduates at the Universities from elementary schools. Which is the correct impression ?

The figure 42 per cent. was given by Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, in the House of Commons, and must therefore be regarded as official ; the figure given by Sir William Beveridge was 27 per cent. It is not clear how the discrepancy is to be accounted for.

to. Are there many tenants' defence leagues, or is the one at Poplar the only one ?

There are tenants' defence leagues in many London Boroughs and in many provincial towns.

it. Is Stalin's Government of Russia influenced to any great extent by the Committee of Commissars ?

The Council of Commissars is regarded as the supreme legislative and executive authority in Soviet Russia, but the Government is largely controlled by the Communist Party, of which M. Stalin is Secretary. The Politburo probably exercises more real authority than the Council of Commissars.

12. When British ships get bombed in Valencia, what goods are they mostly carrying ?

They may be carrying almost any cargo other than muni- tions, e.g., fertilizers, foodstuffs, coal, motor-lorries.

13. Is it known whether the earth has any supply of waters which is independent of that which falls or has fallen from the heavens ?

The liquid water contained in the earth's crust is probably entirely derived from rain-water. The molten volcanic rocks which form the lava of volcanoes contain much steam dissolved under great pressure. This issues from volcanoes and fissures in the earth and is a steady though small addition to the earth's available water-supply. The total quantity of water contained in these rocks is very great, perhaps comparable with the sea. There is no extra-planetary supply of water.

14. Is it a fact that the price of coal to the domestic consumer includes a concealed subsidy to industrial and export coal ; and if so what is the amount of the subsidy ?

There is no formal or recognised subsidy such as is sug- gested in the question, but it has been stated that in some coal-fields at any rate there are arrangements within the trade having the effect indicated in respect of export coal.

15. Why when a member of the House of Commons is made a peer is he compelled to enter the House of Lads, and in other cases Lords are permitted to sit in the House of Commons ?

The House of Lords consists of princes of the blood, archbishops and a certain number of bishops, peers of the United Kingdom, 16 Scottish, and (at present) 16 Irish, Representative Peers. None of these may sit in the House of Commons. Scottish or Irish peers who are not among the Representative Peers (e.g., Earl Winterton) may sit in the House of Commons. The eldest sons of earls, marquesses or dukes who carry the courtesy title " Lord " (e.g., Lord Stanley or Lord Cranborne) are not, of course, peers and may sit in the House of Commons.