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information covering power units, implements, crop rotations, and cultivation methods on mixed arable farms has been collected as a basis for improving and expediting future cost investigations of cash crops. An investigation of orchard-tree valuation has been carried out. This involved the collection of information on production, depreciation, and costs in various districts so that standards could be set for the valuation of trees. The Farm Management and Economics Section has also prepared a number of departmental reports on the Dominion's primary industries and overseas trade and contributed a number of articles to the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. Farm Engineering Shortage of trained staff has retarded the development of the Farm Engineering Section, but I anticipate that in the coming year it will be possible to establish the nucleus of a farm machinery extension service and an implement-testing station. Some useful work was carried out on tractor usage and? implement equipment on mixed arable, dairy, and pastoral farms. A fairly complete survey was made of the work intended for tractors released during the latter war years, which showed that the adoption of the tractor by practically all classes of farmers does not appear to be reflected in any important change in farm-management practice or production. However, an analysis of the data covering wartime releases indicates that in the initial purchase of a tractor the majority of farmers are inclined to start with one that is slightly underpowered for the work required. A farm forestry officer has been appointed to initiate an extension service on farm shelter, plantations, and wood lots. Statistical Section The volume of work handled by the Statistical Section has increased greatly in consequence of the extension of field investigations. In addition to the routine work of compiling statistics and tabulating data collected by the field staff, the Section has furnished information covering a wide range of subjects in response to requests from other Divisions of the Department, other Government Departments, foreign Legations, and private individuals both in the Dominion and overseas. The routine statistics compiled by the Statistical Section consist of monthly butter and cheese production, butterfat-supply to dairy factories, live-stock slaughterings, wool pull, and sales of pelts. Rural Sociology The work in rural sociology has covered the preparation of articles on home management and economics for the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture and surveys on farm housing and rural population patterns. A survey of the rural areas of Marlborough and Nelson has been completed and will shortly be published. The survey was designed to study the relation between the development of primary and other industry, the origin, progress, and location of towns, together with the services they provide for the interdependent countryside. It covers housing and social activities, population trends, and land use. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (798 copies), £l7O.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1947. Price Is. 6d.~\

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