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Farmers' Field Competitions. These competitions continue to be carried out, and have extended, particularly in the Taranak; and Wellington - West Coast and Canterbury districts. Interest in the competitions is well maintained, and their value is undoubted. The Hemp Industry. This industry has experienced quite a good year, and great interest is being shown in flax-cultivation, particularly in the Auckland Province, where some new companies are being formed. The amount of hemp graded for the year ended 31st March, 1926, was 93,875 bales, as compared with 85,976 for the previous year, an increase of 7,899 bales. The quantity of tow graded was 25,211 bales, as against 22,323, an increase of 2,888. Of stripper-tow 2,979 bales were graded, as against 1,318, an increase of 1,661 bales. The number of bales of stripper-slips graded was 3,430, as against 2,189, an increase of 1,241 bales. Of the hemp graded 7-32 per cent, was good-fair, 5242 per cent, high fair, and 32-14 per cent, fair grade ; 14-9 per cent, of the tow was first grade, 65-2 per cent, second grade, and 16-21 per cent, third grade : Stripper-tow was 6-8 per cent, first grade, 75-19 per cent, second grade, and 15-13 per cent, third grade : Stripper-slips were 3-12 per cent, first grade, 51-07 per cent, second grade, and 40-67 per cent, third grade. Grass Plots at New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. A pasture and farm crop exhibit was arranged on an area of about three-quarters of an acre at the Exhibition. In this exhibit an effort was made to illustrate the main features of New Zealand agriculture, including all the major types of the grass-lands of New Zealand, and to deal with the autecology of pasture species and the development of pasture association under the varying conditions of grass-land management prevailing in New Zealand. The design of these plots was quite original, and to my knowledge nothing so comprehensive has ever been attempted in any other part of the world. Great interest was evinced in the work, and it has called forth innumerable laudatory remarks. Biological Laboratory. The twelve months just concluded stands out as a period of intense activity in the history of this laboratory. Important research and investigational work into a large variety of agricultural problems has been carried out. An exceptional amount of original work has been written up and published in the form of books, bulletins, and Journal articles. This, together with the large volume of advisory, instructional, and administrative work, and the usual correspondence and routine, has called for considerable self-sacrifice on the part of the staff. Moreover, there have been heavy demands in connection with the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The collection of biological exhibits from all parts of both the North and South Islands, the preparation of material in the laboratory, and the special photographic and artistic work for various branches of the Department, are still further calls to which this laboratory has responded. Of immediate importance is the reconstruction of the seedtesting staff to stabilize it and enable it to fulfil those functions which the present circumstances require for the development and protection of both the local and export seed trade. Seed-testing.—As is usual, the greater portion of the activity of the Seed-testing Station has been devoted to the testing and analysing of commercial seed-samples. A total number of 8,164 samples were tested during the twelve months ended December, 1925, showing a reduction of 1.02 upon the number for the previous year. On an average the quality of the seed-samples submitted showed itself to be of the usual high standard, although a series of samples not received through the usual channels turned out to be very inferior in regard to germination. There is little doubt that while certain vendors spare no efforts to supply high-quality seed there is still a considerable amount of low-quality seed being retailed in the Dominion. Chewings fescue : Full details of the Chewings-fescue investigation were published at the end of 1925, and the recommendations made then have been well followed out by the growers in Southland. This year's crop is of an unusually good quality, and as it has prospects of a fairly good market in the United States of America, the season should be a successful one. Sandon rye-grass : It was found impossible to allow sufficient time for investigation into the failure of Sandon rye-grass to germinate. As a consequence of the almost entire failure of the 1925 crop practically no seed was saved in that district this year. This problem is worthy of the Department's attention. Crested dogstail : Deterioration in germination capacity of Southern crested dogstail is believed to be caused by immaturity. Ten experimental parcels of seed at various stages of maturity were made up and sent to Canada and Great Britain for periodical testing. The results should demonstrate the holding-capacity of the more mature seed. The Southern 1926 crop is very short and of average quality only, consequently there will not be a large surplus for export. General: During the year the Canadian Department of Agriculture gave the necessary authority to allow the New Zealand Seed-testing Station to make analyses and issue certificates under the Canadian Seeds Act, 1923. This allows of export being made direct to buyers in Canada without holding in bond at the receiving port. Seed which would not be fit to pass the Canadian seed-importation standard is also by this means prevented from leaving New Zealand. Agrostology. —The regrassing experiments on the hill country of the North Island claimed the greater amount of attention in this branch during the past year. A great deal of careful analytical work in regard to the growth and covering-capacity of each species sown has been accomplished. From data secured from such analyses the formulating of the cheapest and best grass-mixtures for primary- and secondary-growth burns of hill country will now rapidly be placed oh a sound footing. A further series of grassing experiments has just been completed, approximately 123 acres being sown.

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