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Schedule I.

Schedule II. — Statement of Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance — £ s. d. £ s. d. Tree-planting .. .. .. .. 4 9 6 1,110 11 5 Pitting .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,552 14 0 Clearing .. .. .. .. .. .. 963 17 0 Cartage of trees . . . . . . . . .. 179 13 3 General upkeep .. .. .. .. 379 3 7 3,718 7 4 General repairs .. .. .. .. .. 142 18 0 Horse-feed .. . . . . . . . . 33 16 3 Permanent works — Fencing. .. .. .. .. .. .. 471 0 3 Purchase of land .. .. .. .. ... 1043 General formation .. .. . . .. 36 13 0 Buildings .. .. .. .. .. 355 4 9 Water service Stock, implements, &c. —Tools and implements .. 014 3 327 3 6 Supervision and clerical —- Supervision of free labour .. .. .. 15 0 0 \ . „ Clerical assistance.. .. .. .. 10001 £409 7 4 £9,909 12 7

REPORT ON AFFORESTATION OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. [By the Superintending Nurseryman, Tapanui.] In the compilation of annual reports on the progress of afforestation-work no attempt is made to treat exhaustively any of the subjects written upon, and the object of the officers is accomplished if they are able to clearly disclose the leading features associated with their stations, and show how the expenditure has been allocated. As arrangements are well in hand for the publication of special articles on forestry matters by officers, this idea will tend to curtail these annual reports, while at the same time greater prominence will be given to the more important subjects, which are usually overshadowed by statistics. The weather-conditions particularly favoured tree-growing in both Naseby and Hanmer Springs districts ; but we were again unfortunate in the most southern nursery in having to experience an unusually heavy and persistent rainfall, particularly over that period when plenty of sunshine is required for seed-germination and cultivation amongst transplanted trees. Hanmer Springs registershowed that 45-82 in. of rain fell there on 128 days, while at Tapanui a precipitation of 47-80 in. on 203 days was recorded. Perhaps the most interesting meteorological data is associated with Naseby Plantation, where the excellent fall of 36-41 on 125 days doubtless is responsible for the unusually uniform headway being made by trees generally there. The opinion formed that considerably heavier downpours occur over the areas skirting the base of Mount Ida is specially borne out this year, as at Ranfurly Nursery, only twelve miles distant, the. year's fall amounted to only two-thirds of that on the plantation. Any further points of comparison can be ascertained on reference to the rainfall charts appended to the reports on each central station.

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Tempi Maximum. mature. Number of Days Frostg occurred. Minimum. 1913. Lpril ilay lune ruly Lugust September .. )ctober November .. )ecember .. In. 2-56 3-64 4-69 4-30 8-70 1-70 1-91 4-18 3-28 5 21 12 16 23 9 11 15 12 Deg. F. 72 62 66 62 60 66 76 70 74 Deg. F. 32 34 32 32 32 34 40 40 40 1 1 1 1 1914. 40 44 42 anuary February larch 0-77 0-76 3-38 5 6 7 87 88 84 Totals 39-87 142