C.—l

40

and Harris's farms. Tho following is a summary of the quantity of materials planted : Main line of marram, 6 yards wide, 31 chains ; second line of marram and cross-sections, 3 ft, wide, 52 chains ; connecting lines of marram, 2.ft, wide, 54 chains : total number of chains of marram, planted, .137. Total number of bundles of marram-grass plants planted, 1,056. The average weight of the bundles of plants was 40 lb. California tree-lupin seed sown in the vicinity of the Pa extension, 20 lb. Work in connection with the extension of the Pa marram plantation ceased on 20th November, 1923. From this date to 28th November, 1923, repairs to the Pa marram plantation were taken in hand, and reclaiming-work on the Kaipara sand-dune areas closed down on 30th November, 1923, to 3rd January, 1924. California tree-lupin.—Harvesting, threshing, sowing lupin-sood, anel laying down lupin and tea-tree fascines for the period from 3rd January, 1924, to 31st March, 1924: Tin; principal part of this work was carried out at the Eagle's Nest, the Eagle's Nest sand-dune area being the locality chosen to bring to a finishing-point. The following is a summary of the operations of the work : Produced from 140 sacks of harvested seed-pods, 5 owt. 1 qr. 31b. The refuse of 140 sacks of threshed seed sown on dunes at the Eagle's Nest, 140 sacks. Lupin fascines carrying seed-pods, 242|- chains ; tea-tree fascines laid down, 66 chains. Lupin-seed sown (threshed) —At the Eagle's Nest sand-dune areas, 741b. seed ; on the coastal dune areas from a point opposite the Eagle's Nest and towards tho Muriwai Creek, 60 lb. : total, 134 lb. The approximate area covered by the lupin-seeel sown would be 448 chains ; protecting marram-grass lines to the Kopuraonui marram plantation, 6| chains. The lupin-seed sown at the Eagle's Nest was resown where the, seed had been covered up by drift sand ; also on the high localities among the tea-tree and toetoe plants. The seed from the grown lupin-trees will extenel year by year to tho extending lupin fascines laid down to establish lupin plantations from the lower sand-dune areas of the Eagle's Nest. The lupin-seed sown on the coastal dunes is to extend the lupin plantations to the! Muriwai Creek, and to link up with the established lupin plantations south eif the Muriwai Creek (Muriwai Domain work) and the Department's lupin plantations north. It is pioneer work to prepare material in the future to reclaim the immense sanddrifts. The lupin and tea-tree fascines laid are an extension of tho establisheel lupin plantation, and the extending linos arc laid down principally in circular formation. Progress of Work, and a General Description of the Growth of Plantations. —California tree-lupin plantations : The germination of the seed from the lupin fascines laid down in 1923 at the Eagle's Nost has not proved so successful as former development work, and the lupins grown are far apart along the lines of lupin fascines, now formed dunes. The cause was too much drifting sand, which covered the seed too deep to allow it to germinate. This proves the fact that too much liberty cannot be taken in sowing lupin-sood outside of sheltered limits. However, since the lupin and tea-tree fascines have been laid down this season the sand-drift has been checkeel, and consequently the seed has become, uncovered and has starteel to germinate. Under more sheltered conditions at the Eagle's Nest and the various plantations along tho inland drift more favourable developments have taken place. The coastal dune lupin plantations, west coast: As reported in the last annual report, the lupin plantations in many parts along the twelve miles sown have boon covered up with drifting sand, anel are now separate plantations instead of being continuous. The lupin plantations that have established themselves are making progressive growth, and one of the plantations, approximately four miles along the coast-line, has completely clothed the coastal dune areas in that locality. Marram-grass plantation : Seven marram plantations have been establisheel on tho inland sand drift, known as the Eagle's Nest, Gregory's, Hoe's, Kopuranui, Puketapu, and Monks. Tho Eagle's Nest and parts of the Pa plantations are making very indifferent growth. Tho other plantations, although doing useful work in regard to holding up the sand-drift, have not produced the supply of marram-plants expected for further development-work. To improve the conditions of the Eagle's Nest and parts of the Pa marram plantations, lupin fascines carrying seed-pods have been laid in rows through these plantations, with favourable results. Also, toetoe plants have been plantoel out at the Pa marram plantation with the same object in view. General Remarks. —The indifferent growth of the marram plantations is caused by the fierce westerly gales, which give; a rotary motion to the sand-drift. This, instead of feeding the marramplants with drifting sand, removes the sand from tho marram-grass roots, leaving the root-action of the plants exposed to the climatic conditions. The rows of lupin fascines and toetoe plants put down through these plantations are counteracting the; evil, as raised dunes arc being formed, tho drift sand from which is commencing to cover the marram-grass roots. Another menace to both the lupin and marram plants is tho rabbit. Great Northern Sand Dune Reclamation (Waipapakauri-Hohoura). Area (approximate) of marram-grass established, 23rd May to 17th July, 1922, 5 acre;s. California tree-lupin seed sown from September, 1921, to J 7th July, 1922, 12 cwt. 3 qr. 231b.; area (approximate!) sown, eighty miles. From 17th July, 1922, to 15th January, 1924, the reclamation of the Great Northern sand-dune areas was in abeyance. California tree-lupin : Harvesting, threshing, sowing seed, and laying lupin and tea-tree fascines from the period 15th January, 1924., to 31st March, 1924. Tho operations of harvesting the California tree-lupin seed commenced on 17th January, 1.924, and continued on to 14th February, 1924; from this date to 31st March, 1924, the work carried out was sowing lupin branches carrying seed-pods, the refuse! of the threshed seed, laying lupin fascines carrying seed-pods, and laying tea-tree fascines to protect tho young lupin-plants in their first stages of growth,