0.—3

18

Following is a recortl of the rainfall and temperature for the year : —

Rainfall, Temperature, &c.

Puhipuhi Plantation. The weather conditions throughout, the year have been, on the whole, favourable for treegrowth, except during November and December, when the conditions were somewhat dry ; the rainfall was fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Pinus radiata to the number of 168,000 were planted on areas where the eucalypts had failed. The results are good, the failures being estimated at from 10 per cent, to 12 per cent. Although the growth made is not great, the trees have a very healthy appearance, and it is expected that they will come away vigorously in the spring. The pines planted during the previous year have done exceedingly well, and now average 1 ft. in height, although many of them are fully 2 ft. tall. By another year these trees should be well above the bracken, when the maintenance charges should be practically nil. Temporary Nursery. —About 70,000 seedlings Pinus radiata were lined out in a nursery plot last spring. These have made good, strong growth, and will be used during the coming winter for blanking. Sufficient land is now in course of preparation for lining out 200,000 seedlings next spring. Once a nursery stock of two-year-old Pinus radiata can be worked up it is expected that much better results will be obtained in the plantation. Preparations for 1920. —An area of 120 acres has been cleared, ami of this 80 acres has been burned and is ready for pitting. This area, which will require about 150,000 trees, will be planted during the coming season. The average daily number of men employed was 756. Following is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year : —

Rainfall, Temperature, &c.

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Temperature. Minimum. Maximum. Number of Days Frosts occurred. 1919. Lpril lay r une r uly Lugust September .. )ctober November .. )ecember .. In. 0.76 2-46 3-45 3-34 6-44 1-96 4-12 0-97 1-53 9 8 15 18 18 II 10 9 8 Deg. F. Deg. F. 27 66 25 64 22 55 23 59 25 59 24 64 30 71 29 69 25 76 5 19 12 12 13 10 3 5 3 1920. anuary February larch 4-42 6-05 2-65 16 12 7 34 77 39 81 36 74 Totals 38-15 141 82

1919. April May June July August September .. October November .. December .. Month. Rainfall. In. 0-18 9-34 2-81 8-31 4-37 5-57 5-44 1-39 2-59 Number of Days Rain fell. 2 14 8 13 10 9 6 8 8 Temp Minimum. Deg. F. 34 30 30 30 32 34 30 38 32 Temperature. um. Maximum. F. Deg. F. 70 66 64 60 60 68 76 76 80 pe: Number of Days FroBts occurred. 9 9 ' 6 1 2 1920. 80 82 80 January February March 5'42 8-29 12-94 12 17 6 40 42 40 Totals I 66-65 66-65 113 113 27