25

a—s

failures amongst Pinus Banksiana, which in this district appears to be difficult to transplant. Apart from this partial failure most of the frees have struck belter than usual, and there is a smaller percentage of deal lis amongst both Pinus ponderosa and Pinus Laricio. The latter, however, have made no vertical growth, and the majority will require to remain in nursery lines for another season. Excepting in specially favoured seasons, transplanting info nursery lines has been always attended here by a heavy mortality in stock, anil an efforl will be made during the coming season to do away with this operation as much as possible. Past experience has proved that by sowing thinly, and wrenching flu- trees fairly frequently during the, third year, a much better class of tree for permanent planting is obtained direct, from the seed beds than that which can be produced by lining out when two years old. To carry out this proposition an increased number of seed-frames would be required; but the reduction of failures to a minimum and the saving of the cost of lining out should more than counterbalance the expenditure involved. Raising of Seedlings. —Owing to delays in the delivery of tree-seeds, sowing was commenced later than usual, and was done at various times as the quantities came to hand. The results on the whole are disappointing, Pinus 'ponderosa,, which usually germinates well, having been a partial failure. The sowing of Pinus Laricio seed which had been in stock for at least two years was also attended with very poor results. Pinus radiata has done very well, and a fine crop of seedlings to the number of some 345,000 resulted from the sowing of 601b. of seed. The latter will be lined out in the spring, a small number being reserved for the autumn to test the possibility of handling them at this season in preference to spring planting. It is feared, however, that the climate is too severe for this to be successful. Trees to the number of 402,000 were raised from seed, and the total number in the nursery at 31st March was 920,450. Approximately 250,000 trees will be available for transfer to Naseby 'Plantation next spring. Formation. —For the purpose of providing new ground for seed-beds and for lining out an area of 5 acres was levelled and subdivided by roads into convenient plots. This absorbed a considerable amount of labour, the ground being so uneven that it was necessary to first remove the whole of the surface soil, which was replaced after the grading was completed. Horse-feed. —A fair crop of oatsheaf was harvested from tO acres of spare land, and this, together with the crop from Gimmerburn Plantation, should provide sufficient horse-feed for the year. Buildings. —Several necessary additions to buildings are now nearing completion, the work having been delayed considerably owing to difficulties in procuring material and skilled labour. The daily average number of men employed was 6.

Rainfall, Temperature, &c.

Details of One-year-old Trees, sown 1919-20.

4—C. 3.

Temperature. Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain foil. Number of Days Frosts occurred. Maximum. Minimum. 1919. April May June July August September .. October November . . December .. In. 4-14 0-75 1-52 1-76 3-19 2-67 0-55 2-13 2-43 13 6 12 8 12 10 8 12 13 Deg.F 69 67 64 58 57 66 69 68 86 Deg. F. 24 19 9 20 22 20 27 30 31 10 20 20 23 17 15 7 4 2 1920. 1-21 1-48 0-71 10 8 6 83 90 81 32 33 29 1 January February .. March ' .. 5 Totals 22-54 118 124

Name of Tree. Number Amount in Seed-beds, of Seed sown. Growth. 'inus radiata „ L,aricio „ ponderosa 345,600 22,100 34,300 lb. 60 50 60 Good germination. Old seed. Very uneven. Total 402,000