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Schedule lll. — Trees Account. Number. Trees received during year Less to replace blanks Planted on new area Previously planted .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30,525 Total number planted on 11 acres (average age, three years).. .. 30,525 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ s. d. Land (11 acres) ; Crown land, nol charged to Forestry Account Buildings Stock .. .. .. .. .. .. ■ .. Improvements . . . . .. .. .. . . .. 3 10 I) Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 11 1 Stores in hand £61 1 1 Balance-sheet. £ s. d. Total expenditure .. .. . . .. .. . . 203 0 7 Less Property Account .. .. .. .. ..6111 Cost of operations (11 acres planted ; (average age, three years) .. £141 19 6 Estimated value of plantation per acre .. .. .. ..£920 R. G. Robinson, Superintending Nurseryman .

Ewbburn Nursery, near Naseby, Otago. (Area, 49 acres ; altitude, 1,400 ft.) « During the year the rainfall has been a little heavier than the previous one, the total being 15-61 in. on ninety-two days. The highest reading of the thermometer in the shade was 84° on the 10th and 16th November, and the lowest 10° (22° of frost) on the 25th September. The ground-temperature of the same date was 5° (27° of frost). Frost occurred on 137 nights in the screen and on 192 nights on the ground. The weather this year, compared with last, has been very much wanner, and, although more rain has fallen, it has been drier in the months of February and March, and. in consequence, the drought became very serious. The average heat for the month of March last was 66-35°, and for the corresponding month of this year 72-22°, which with the scanty rainfall in February accounts in a measure for the drought. The work of sowing seeds was commenced on the 20th October and finished on the 26th, but owing to the unfavourable season the crop has not been too satisfactory, especially amongst the larch. Tinlatter came away very evenly in the first stages until the dry set in, and to make matters worse, large numbers were eaten off by a small white worm resembling a small eel. Pinus Laricin are a very even crop, but not so thick as usual, yet, nevertheless, are a fair crop. Watering had to be resorted to day after day, owing to the want of rain during the latter part of the summer, which has greatly raised the cost of production. The water-supply is not sufficient, and during the winter months 1 would recommend that a better supply be laid on by the use of a larger pipe at the intake of the dam. The seedlings as a whole are very sturdy, and better results can be obtained from pines than larch. The work of lining out was commenced on the sth September, the weather being most unfavourable, owing to the high winds, which made the work irksome to the men. and harder on the trees. A total of 918,953 trees were lined out, a 1 an average cost of Is. 7d. per thousand, and, notwithstanding the depredations of the grass-grub and the drought combined, the average strike has been excellent. It is usually thought in this dry region that constant watering is carried out on the lined-out trees, but this has never been the practice, nor have we the water at hand to do so, and it is simply an evidence of what can be done by constant cultivation. The probable number of trees that are sufficiently advanced for their removal to the plantation is 708,133. The number of trees sent out to the Naseby Plantation was 326.300, and 1,065 to nurseries and public bodies, their value being £1,064 14s. Id. The number of trees in the nursery at the 81st March. 1911. is 1.750,265, and their value is £3,489 Is. P* Taking the work as a whole, the year has been very satisfactory, and with a better supply of water and the shelter-breaks getting higher and thicker, good results should be accomplished in the future. The expenditure for the year amounts to £825 Is. 6d., and the total to date £11,906 14s. lid., which gave employment to 4-6 men.

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