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NELSON-MARLBOROUGH REGION. Golden Downs Plantation. Planting was commenced on this new afforestation project, and an area of 494 acres established with 335,920 trees. To enable locally-grown tree stock to be used for subsequent planting, 7 acres were laid out as a nursery and sown with 687 lb. of seed, from which approximately 4,263,800 seedlings have been raised. Dumgree Plantation. Ten acres were blanked with two-year-old insignis pine. The nursery at the close of the year held 507,500 trees, of which 195,000 were transferred to Golden Downs and 55,000 were Sold locally. Seed-collection. ; The seed collected locally amounted to 5261b., made up as follows: Pinus radiata. 1101b.; P. canariensis, 176 lb. ; Pseudotsuga Douglasii, 30 lb. ; Sequoia sempervirens, 210 lb. Sample Plots. Four sample plots were laid out and measured at Dumgree Plantation, and figures from these were collected for the compilation of local yield tables. Proposals for 1928-29. 1. Establishing 3,000 acres of new plantation at Golden Downs. 2. Raising 7,500,000 trees. 3. Demarcating roads and reopening tracks, &c, in provisional State forests. CANTERBURY-OTAGO REGION. Nurseries. The total tree stocks in the nurseries have eclipsed all previous records with a grand total of 23,875,650 showing the remarkable increase of over five million more than last year. Detailed figures are as follows : —

At Tapanui, although indifferent weather was experienced, the raising of planting stock was signally successful, with the exception of eucalypts, which suffered very severely from heavy frosts. It is interesting to note that experience over a period of years conclusively proves that at Tapanui soil and climatic conditions are much better suited to raising a finer class of tree than at Hanmer Nursery. Owing to the difficulty in growing eucalypts, their liability to attack by numerous pests, and costs of transportation, these species, with a few exceptions, are unsuitable for general planting in Otago and Southland. E. Gunii has proved a useful tree. Several other species grow well in Nelson, where attacks by disease are not so frequent. The main nursery for North Canterbury established at Balmoral last year has produced excellent results, and the change of major operations from Hanmer Springs has been amply justified. At the latter station the soil is heavier, weed-growth more rapid, and losses from frost lift much greater than at the former. The trees lined out number 375,900, and are looking well. It is estimated that approximately 11,247,000 trees will be available for sale and transfer to the various afforestation stations. Seed sown totalled 3,304 lb., or 148 lb. more than last year, and most satisfactory results were obtained. Tree-planting. Last year's objective of 7,000 acres of new forests was more than realized, and 7,159 acres were actually established. This is considered a very satisfactory performance when it is borne in mind that the planting gangs were largely recruited from the ranks of the unemployed and comprised workmen unused to this class of work. Direct sowing at Spec Gully, Naseby, met with disappointing results owing to the excessive moisture in the soil rotting the seed. The death-rates at Hanmer and Balmoral were respectively 11 per cent, and 29 per cent., and at Blue Mountains 10 per cent. The losses at Balmoral are attributed to the very dry weather in January and February.

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Station. One-year. Two-year. Three-year. Total. ialmoral and Hanmer 'apamii ' .. laseby 5,731,000 6,453,050 859,900 5,731,000 6,453,050 859,900 ) 5,627,620 ) 3,799,350 ) 1,241,000 51,230 105,800 6,700 11,409,850 10,358,200 2,107,600 Grand total 23,875,650