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Red Deer. —So persistent have been the attacks upon our young ash and oak by the red deer that it has been necessary to devote a fair amount of time in stalking the destructive animals, two of which were recently shot. The difficulty experienced in locating the whereabouts of the intruders in the dense plantation may be easily imagined ; and us our boundary-fences offer no effective barrier against the deer, it is only by keeping a rifle constantly within reach that one is able to get within an effective shooting-range. General Maintenance. —In addition to the usual amount of general maintenance-work performed by the two employees engaged, a start was made at removing the lower decayed branches of larch. This labour is expeditiously carried out with the aid of a stout stick; and, when trees are sufficiently advanced for the operation, three or four brisk blows will easily dislodge the brittle branches wit limit creating any injury to the supporting bole. The clearance-work has not progressed far enough to permit of an accurate calculation being made for conducting the operations over an extended area. Some 13,200 trees, as enumerated in Schedule 111. were utilized for replanting throughout, and an excellent growing-percentage resulted. Two teams of horses were occupied for nearly three weeks in cultivating tire-breaks; but at no period of the past season has surface vegetation been inflammable enough to cause any anxiety to those responsible. Minor works, in the form of removal of coarse growth from around young trees, tree-pruning. formation of tracks, and rabbiting, were also carried on. An expenditure of £379 15s. 7d. was incurred during the year, which advances the total expenditure to £12,838 17s. 2d. Details of expenditure, Trees Account. Property Account, and balance-sheet are appended. Schedule II. — Statement oj Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Planting operations and maintenance— £ s. d. £ s. d. Tree-planting .. .. .. .. .. 3.094 16 2 Pitting.. .. .. .. .. 3.619 2 7 Clearing .. .. .. .. .. 496 5 11 Cartage of trees .. . . .. .. .. 216 12 8 General upkeep of plantation .. .. 162 10 1 2,573 4 8 General repairs .. .. .. .. 8 10 61 0 11 Horse-feed .. .. .. 14 9 5 126 18 4 Permanent works— Fencing .. .. .. .. .. 258 2 3 Formation .. .. .. .. .. 366 7 2 Buildings .. .. .. .. 4 114 373 9 10 Stock, implements, &c.—Tools, implements .. 8 3 9 153 12 6 Supervision and clerical— Salaries— Supervision of free labour .. .. 155 0 0 1,110 10 0 Superintending Nurseryman's proportion and clerical assistance .. .. 27 0 0 388 14 2 £379 15 7 £12,838 17 2 Schedule Hl. — Trees Account. Number. Trees received during year .. .. .. .. .. 13,200 Less, to replace blanks .. .. .. .. .. 13,200 Previously planted .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,180,837 Total number planted on 845 acres (average age, 8 years) .. .. 2,180.837 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ , Land (845 acres) ; Crown lands not charged to forestry Account Buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. 373 9 10 StockImprovements .. .. .. .. .. 366 7 2 Fencing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 258 2 3 Stores in hand .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 18 5 £1,022 17 8 Balance-sheet. £ s. d. Total expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,838 17 2 Less Property Account .. .. .. .. .. 1,022 17 8 Cost of operations .. ... .. .. .. .. £11,815 19 6 845 acres planted (average age, 8 years) Estimated value of plantation per acre .. .. .. .. £11 7 6 F. Benfell, Plantation Foreman. R. G. Robinson, Superintending Nurseryman.