C.—l.

manuka scrub has been erected on the western boundary of same, until the permanent hedge is sufficiently high for the purpose. A substantial and comfortable four-roomed cottage has been erected of sun-dried bricks for the nurseryman-in-charge; also a shed of galvanised iron for housing drays and farm implements, which was much required. Details are appended under Schedules A, A l , A 2 , and A 3 , giving numbers, ages, heights, and values of all trees ; also plan of nursery, showing location of crops. The following is the record of rainfall and temperature for the year :

Record of Rainfall and Temperature at State Forest Nursery, Eweburn.

Tapanui Nueseky. Eain fell during .169 days, with a total of 37-49 in. for the year, against 170 days and 36-32 in. for the previous year. The greatest heat experienced was on the 11th January, when 98° was registered, and the greatest cold on the 25th July, when the thermotneter indicated 14°, or 18° of frost. Generally speaking, the season has not been a good one for the growth of nursery stock, especially seedlings, although two-year-old trees, such as ash, oak, scyamore, and larch, have done very fairly. The frost of July was very severe on seedling larch and spruce fir by lifting them out of the ground in large blocks. The " lining-out" of seedling trees into nursery rows was commenced during May, but on account of heavy and continued frosts setting in this work had to be discontinued, and it was not until the middle of August that a start could again be made. A fairly open spring followed, and 434,000 trees were transplanted by the middle of October. This year's seedling crops promise i:emarkably well so far, but the real test is during heavy frosts, after which the sturdiest plants only survive. Perhaps the most interesting crop of the season is several long rows of the native kowhai, so well known as a durable fencing-timber. Many of these treelets have grown to a height of 15 in. from the seed during the five months they have been above ground, although their average height is from 6 in. to 12 in. The number has been estimated at 7,500, but on transplanting them during the coming spring it will more likely be quite 10,000. The value of nursery stock has increased from £1,610 10s. 6d. to £2,780 7s. 3d., including this year's crop, which is valued at £571 Bs. 3d. Trees sent to the plantation during the year are not included in the above. All spare patches of ground not occupied by tree-crops have been thoroughly worked and cropped with oats, clover, hay, and carrots, for horse-feed. At the upper end of the nursery a small dam has been constructed to store water in case of a dry season being experienced, and 1 in. galvanised-iron pipes (with stand-pipes every chain) laid therefrom to the edge of seed-bed ground. All the roads (except main one in centre of nursery) have been graded, crowned, and sown down with grass, so as to reduce the cost of maintenance. The drive leading to stable-yard and around buildings has been gravelled and rolled smooth with a heavy roller, and before the winter sets in the main road through centre of nursery will be similarly dealt with. Ground has been prepared on either side of main drive, and permanent stock trees planted thereon for the purpose of " layering " or obtaining an annual supply of cuttings from. Eight acres on the south side of nursery has been enclosed by a rabbit-proof fence for a horsepaddock. Owing to the wet summer the keeping-down of weeds has been done almost entirely by handweeding, as it was impossible to use the hoe while the land was damp and cloggy. During a fairly dry summer the cost of this work would be considerably less than that of the past year. Ten tons of chaff was sent to Eweburn Nursery, and carrots to the value of £8 12s. sold. Full details of the variety, number, and value of all trees in stock are given under Schedules B, 81,B 1 , 82,B 2 , 83.B 3 .

115

Month. Bainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Lowest Beading of Thermometer. Date. Highest Reading of Thermometer. Date. 1899. April ... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December 1900. January February March... 0 83 in. 1-54 in. 0-36 in. 0-89 in. 162 in. 2-32 in. 0'58 in. 1-79 in. 3-44 in. 1-91 in. 2-83 in. 1-10 in. 8 9 1 3 2 7 6 11 13 9 9 5 Degrees. 13 14 16 5 7 21 21 25 26 27 29 27 3rd 29th 9th 26th 8th 28th 6th 4th 8th 8th 3rd 20th Degrees. 66 54 58 56 52 63 69 80 82 84 87 82 1st 7th 21st 24th 31st 14th 17th 19th 3rd 30th 7th 22nd Total 19-21 in. 83 days.