C—lβ.

Schedule 3.—Three-year-old Trees, grown 1905-6. (Fourth Crop.)

Schedule 5.—Trees transferred to Hanmer Springs Plantation.

KUROW NURHXRT. (Area, 45 acres; altitude, 676 ft.) Rain fell on ninety-four days during the year, with a total fall of 1443 in. The maximum monthly fall was registered in September, when 2'BB in. fell on twelve days. The maximum temperature registered was 101°, minimum 20°. Barometer mean for the year 2912. The light rains experienced during the epring months were only of temporary benefit, the fall not being sufficient to moisten the subsoil. Growth made fair progress until December ; the drought then set in, and intense heat and strong parching winds'soon dried out what little moisture was in the soil. The great thing necessary at Kurow seems to be a" a good hard winter," with plenty of snow to thoroughly saturate the subsoil. Apparently, the average winter is much too dry and mild; consequently, under the conditions obtaining successful tree-growing and nursery-work generally is an impossibility. Tree-seeds, One-year Seedlings. —To further test the possibilities of successful growth, a small mixed sowing of tree-seeds was made on the 18th October. With a few exceptions the braird was satisfactory. The growth at first lacked colour and vigour; subsequently, with careful treatment, and the absence of surface-watering, the seedlings improved and strengthened. The crop was grown on without any watering till the 3rd February. Owing to the great heat and long drought, to keep the trees alive, surface-watering had to be done almost every night during February. The unfavourable conditions soon told on the seedlings; the larch especially began to dwindle away and die off in patches, the bark of the roots from the ground-line being scalded and dried up; the pines stood the severe conditions much better—only a few of them were affected. Fourteen acres of the nursery-ground was sown down in oats : the growth was poor, the grain light and shelly.

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Name of Tree. Number in Nursery Lines. Heisht Value in per Total Value. Inches. Thousand. Remarks. Larix Europeea .. Pirnis Larioio . ponderosa 147,500 156,900 7,300 6-15 3-6 £ s. d. 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 £ a. d. 442 10 0 470 14 0 21 18 0 Good crop. •/ Totals 311,700 935 2 0 Schedule 4. — '. 'our-year-old Trees, grown 19i 14-5. (Third Crop.) Name of Trees. Number in Height Value Nursery in per Lines. Inches. Thousand. Total Value. Remarks. tetula alba 'inus muricata .. 'icea sitcnensis .. lerberis ariatata.. 1,500 6,000 50,000 2,000 *9,500 24 12 15 12 £ s. d. 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 10 0 £ s. d. 4 10 0 18 0 0 150 0 0 2 0 0 Good growth. 174 10 0

Name of Tree. Number. ffi£5. Total Va,ue. Remarks. Larix Europeea Pmus Laricio , ponderosa .. , Beutbamiana , Auxtriaca , Jeflreyii , oontorta , murioata Betul i alba Paeudo-tsuga taxifolia Picea sitchtusis 196,750 299,425 61,700 20,400 42,520 150 1,200 9,760 1,375 1,500 400 £ s. d. 2 5 0 2 5 0 2 5 0 2 10 0 2 5 0 2 5 0 2 5 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 0 8 B ii £ s. d. 442 13 9 673 14 1 138 16 6 51' 0 0 'jr, 13 5 0 6 9 2 11 0 29 6 8 4 2 li 4 17 6 1 6 0 Fair growth. m Good growth. • • Pair growth. or Totals 635,180 1,444 10 0 T. B. Cu: Nu :le, •seryman in Charge.