H.—29

37

analyses of lands at West Eyreton arc given in the Journal for August, 1913. Mr. Furkert has had further samples taken, and these, after separation from the gravel, proved to be fine sandy silts deficient in available and total phosphoric acid, the amounts of nitrogen and other mineral plant-foods being high. The treatment indicated as most desirable would seem from analysis to be phosphatic and lime-carbonate manuring, and the stimulation of the growth of leguminosa; with a view to increasing the humus in these light lands. The so-called " tarry " soils of Oamaru have been investigated, and found to have a limerequirement of from Jto | ton of carbonate of lime per acre. These soils rest on a limestone subsoil, and are another instance of the popular fallacy which assumes that because a soil is on limestone it contains sufficient lime. Some kauri-peat soils collected by the Fields Instructor at Auckland proved to have a high limerequirement and very low phosphoric-acid content. Further samples and field experiments are required, however, before generalizing as to the manurial requirement of this extraordinary type of soil. The policy of examining the soils of the State farms in detail has been carried out at Weraroa, every paddock of which has now been sampled and analysed. In connection with the lucerne experiments of Canterbury, samples of the land on which the lucerne has been sown have been taken for analysis. Soil-investigations of the following districts have been suggested or applied for : North Auckland, Thames, Whakatane, and Westland. An understanding has been arrived at between this Department and the Lincoln College authorities that there will be no overlapping of work in connection with the soil-survey of some of the Canterbury counties, the work of which is being carried out at the Lincoln College Laboratory, and that the Department will confine its operations to counties other than those being investigated at Lincoln. The following table shows the number of soil-investigation samples received during the year : From Whakatane County, 33 ; Ruakura Farm, 12; Mamaku Farm, 2; Rangitaiki district, 7 ; Thermal district, 11; Manawatu district, 49; Nelson District, 6; West Wanganui Inlet, 3; Westland District, 14 ; Canterbury District, 10 ; Otago Peninsula, 14 : total, 161. With regard to the testing of soils for lime-requirement, the following figures indicate, as an average, the net result of each instructor's work for the year. It must be borne in mind that reliable generalizations as to the average lime-requirement of any one province can be arrived at only after many more samples have been collected and tested.

Limb. Limestone-supplies. The testing of limestones and reputed limestones has been a prominent feature of the laboratory work ; 161 samples were examined this year. Some of these samples were quite valueless for agricultural purposes ; but the following summary of the more useful limestones tested during the year indicates many excellent sources of supply for both high-grade and low-grade limestone. The publication of Bulletin No. 22 (New Series) of the Geological Survey has brought up to date the available information of New Zealand lime-supplies.

Number of Samples collected. District. Average Tone of Lime-carbonate required per Acre. 70 24 6 8 9 14 16 Auckland Wellington Taranaki Hawke's Bay.. West Coast, South Island Canterbury Otago and Southland .. 3-8 1-8 2-3 2-0-4-9 1-3 2-3

Sample. Particulars of Locality or Ser Particulars of Locality or Sender of Sample. index a- of Sam] lple. Carbonate of Lime (CaOo ;1 ). r Remarks. L/l L/2 L/l I L/12 L/21 L/29 L/39 L/40 L/46 L/47 L/48 L/55 L/l 03 L/104A L/104B L/l 35 L/151 L/l 74 L/182 L/l 83 L/214 L/224 L/328 L/329 L/330 L/341 Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company T. Anderson, Carrington H. Jeffreys, Omahanui, Wairoa D. C. Smith, Whangarei D. C. Smith, Whangarei F. G. Worker, Wellsford F. G. Worker, Wellsford F. G. Worker, Wellsford B. Grigg, Eiffleton C. W. Fairweather, To Kaha .. E. Broomfield, Whitford E. Broomfield, Whitford W. G. Bambry, Marima, Pahiatua Milburn P. Evans, Te Akau Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company Kaipara Farmers' Lime Company R. P. Flood, Utakura, Hokianga H. J. Walton, Martinborough .. J. Fish, Aorere, Collingwood F. Hewitt, Waipukurau F. Hewitt, Waipukurau Farmers' Union, Mahoenui Per Cent. 92-0 72-0 79-0 71-0 85-0 96-0 77-0 74-0 77-0 83-0 81-0 89-0 78-0 87-0 70-0 53-0 88-0 55-0 68-5 72-0 88-5 90-0 09-0 05-0 75-0 94-0 Calcareous sinter. Soft stone. Soft stone. Soft stone.