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where cocksfoot, and Chewing's and hard fescue, at any rate, would grow. There is a popular and unaccountable prejudice on the part of several pastoralists against surface sowing. Instances were quoted to us during our inspection of attempts that have been made to surface-sow, which were attended by unfavourable results. The failures were probably due to feeding-off the grass before it had time to seed. Surface sowing has been attended with more or less satisfactory results on the following runs : viz., Glenlyon (50Q acres, principally swamp land), Richmond (150 acres), and Tekapo (100 acres) —all in the Mackenzie country; Lake Heron (500 acres) and Double Hill (50 acres) —in the Rakaia country; and on Glynnwye (in valleys and on burnt areas). On the last-named run surface sowing has been a complete success, both on the high and the low country. The pastoral licensees have every encouragement under recent legislation to surface-sow on their runs, for section 237 of the Land Act of 1908 provides that surface sowing shall count as an improvement, for which a lessee is entitled to compensation at the termination of his license. Plantations. There are no forests or plantations on the pastoral areas which came under our inspection, with the exception of the native forest (birch) on the Glynnwye Run. They are treeless lands, save for a few trees planted around the various homesteads. That poplar and willows will grow almost anywhere in the high country is proved beyond doubt. There are poplars growing at Haldon Homestead 114 ft. high, and of proportional circumference at the bole. Larch will grow in localities in the Mackenzie country—for instance, in the neighbourhood of Tekapo Lake, Lake Alexandrina, Glenmore, and Simon's Pass. The subject of planting portions of the Mackenzie country is worthy of the serious attention of the Government. Plantations modify the extremes of dry and wet, heat and cold, and contribute towards the safety of the country for stock by creating shelter. Planting is too important an undertaking to be left to desultory attempts of lessees, who may or may not heartily assist the project. We recommend that the Government undertake and control, by means of the Forestry Department, the planting of the Mackenzie country; and that, in order to permit of a wide choice in selecting land for plantation purposes, a condition be inserted in the licenses of the pastoral runs giving the Government the power to resume without payment of compensation, from time to time, during the currency of the license, an aggregate area of 50 acres, in such localities and in such severed areas as may be considered necessary. Reserves for Travelling Stock. It is very desirable that reserves for travelling stock should be provided for in the Mackenzie country. During our inspection we noted on a map, now deposited in the Lands Office, Christchurch, the several places where, for convenience to water and camping facilities, these reserves should be located. F. W. Flanagan, H. D. M. Haszard, James Stevenson, Commissioners. Crown Lands Office, Christchurch, New Zealand, 12th July, 1910.

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