35

C—lb

Schedule lll. — Trees Account. Number Trees received during year Less to replace blanks Planted on new area . . .. .. Previously planted .. .. .. .. .. .. 30,525 Total number planted on 11 acres (average age, six years) .. 30,525 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ s d Land (11 acres): Crown land not charged to Forestry Account Buildings Live-stock Improvements .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 310 0 Fencing . . . . .. .. . . .. . . 57 II 1 Stores in hand . . .. .. . . .. ' £61 1 I Balance-sheet. £ s d Total expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. 228 17 8 Less Property Account .. .. .. .. 61 1 1 Cost of operations .. . . .. .. .. .. 167 16 7 11 acres planted (average age, six years). Estimated value of plantation per acre .. .. .. ..1070 R. G. Robinson, Superintending Nurseryman.

Eweburn Nursery, Ranfurly, Central Otago. (Area, 49 acres ; altitude, 1,400 ft.; established, 1896.) The total rainfall recorded at the above station for the past year was 24-22 in., which fell on 112 days. Last season's was a record fall for this district; but it has been exceeded this year by 1-85 in. The maximum shade-temperature was 88° on the 22nd February, 1914. The minimum temperature in the screen was 15° on the 12th July, 1913, and on the ground 12° on the same date. Frost occurred on 127 nights in the screen, and on the ground on 178 nights. Owing to the heavy rainfall, little or no watering had to be done on the seed-beds ; but a great deal of attention had to be paid to keeping off birds, as the covers could not be kept on in case of the seedlings " damping -off." As a result of the copious rain, the seedlings have made very satisfactory growth, although the crop is somewhat thinner owing to " damping-off " and poor seed-germination. Pinus ponderosa is much thinner than usual, and from observation I should say the seed is not up to the usual standard. As a trial, 2 lb. of Pinus muricata and 4 lb. of Larix leptolepis were sown ; the former germinated poorly, but the latter is very good. Until these have been transplanted it is hard to say how they will fare ; but from an experiment made with about seventy Pinus muricata (which were grown from locally saved seed) planted out they should do very well. - During the winter months a large number of poplar cuttings were gathered, chiefly Populus fastigiata, and these have struck well, the result being a crop of 30,000 well-rooted plants. A part of the seed was sown on the 22nd September, and the remainder during the second week in October. Lining-out trees was commenced on the 9th September, and completed on the 9th October, and a total of 849,410 trees were handled. The " strike," taken as a whole, is very good ; but a number of larch have been destroyed by the grass-grub, the remainder having put on very satisfactory growth. A large number of two-year-old trees in the seed-beds are sufficiently advanced for removal to the plantation, and with those already lined out the estimated number fit for removal will be 700,000 ; but this depends a great deal on the area available to plant at Naseby. The output to plantations and private firms was 275,165, which is the lowest for years ; but this is accounted for by the short supply of seed during the year 1910-11. Indications for the .future point to a continued output of, say, 600,000 to. 800,000 trees per year. Owing to the large number of larch on hand, and the decision to stop growing this variety of tree, some 130,000 were sold to various firms and the Dunedin City Corporation. All spare land has been sown down in oats and ploughed in as manure, and some 6 tons of lime were also used. Cropping was again carried on at Gimmerburn, and 36 acres were sown in oats and harvested, the estimated yield being some 45 tons of good clean sheaf. We have now a quantity of last year's stuff in stack, and a machine is urgently needed to cut the same into chaff as required. The mills do not travel regularly in this district, and it is difficult to get it cut when it is required. All tools, buildings, harness, &c, have been kept in good repair, and are in excellent order. The value of trees sent out to plantations, &c, for the year, as per Schedule V, is £475 3s. 9d. The number of trees of all ages in the nursery at the 31st March, 1914, was 2,188,700, and their value £3,356 4s. The annual expenditure amounts to £1,065 45., and the amount to date £15,111 18s. Bd. The average number of men employed during the year was 5-7. Details of expenditure, &c, are appended.