47

C—lβ

BWEBURN NIJRSEBY, NEAR NASEBY, Otaoo. (Area. lit acres ; altitude, 1,400 ft.) The rainfall at this station lor i lie year was 10-26 in., which fell on twenty-two days, beingo-65 in. in excess of last year. The highest reading of the thermometer (in shade) was 93° on the sth February, 1912, and the lowest 15 on the ISth July, 1911. The lowest reading on the ground was 12 on the 26th June, 1911. frost occurred on 150 nights in the screen and 203 on the ground. The weather on the whole has been much better than in the previous year for tree-growth generally, and, although a backward season, it has been very favourable for the lined-out trees. The seedling larch have done much better than usual, there being almost an entire absence of insects, which greatly destroyed last season's crop. The drop of seedlings as a whole is very satisfactory, the estimated number raised being 992,400, and valued at £992 Bs. The latter part of the season has been wetter and cooler than usual, and in consequence there has not been so much watering to do. A larger pipe was laid at the intake of the dam. which also gave a more plentiful supply. The work of lining out was commenced on the 3rd September, and finished on the sth October, and 731,320 trees were lined out a! an average cost of Is. 9d. per thousand. The strike of lined-out trees has been very good, and there will be approximately 800,000 trees sufficiently advanced for removal to the plantation for the coming season. The number of trees sent to the Naseby Plantation was 637,655, and 2,750 to other stations and public bodies, their value being £1,960 15s. Bd. The number of trees on the nursery at the 31st March, 1912. is 2,118,250, and their value is £3,769 Is. 9d. During the year a new wagon has been purchased for the removal of trees, and is found very convenient, and greatly facilitates 1 he work of transport. The shelter-breaks, &c, have been kept in order, and the buildings have received two coats of paint. The nurseryman's residence has also been enlarged, which is very much appreciated. The work as a whole for the year has been satisfactory. The expenditure for the year amounts to £1,058 Is. Bd., and the total to date £12,964 16s. 7d. The average number of men employed for the year was 5-34. Appended are statements of accounts. A:c.

Schedule I.

Schedule II. — Statement oj Expenditure. For Year. To Date. Tree-planting and maintenance— £ 8 . d. £ s. d. Tree-growing .. .. , .. 356 4 5 5,173 15 0 General maintenance and repairs.. 265 17 5 2,535 17 0 Tree-seeds .. .. .. .. 51 10 5 497 19 8 Manures .. .. .. .. .. 40 15 3 Horse-feed, purchased and grown .. 58 3 5 514 4 4 Miscellaneous works .. .. .. .. 44 18 7 Stock and material—Tools, implements .. 44 8 3 831 15 11 Permanent works— Buildings .. .. .. .. 71 13 0 830 11 2 Nursery-formation .. .. . . .. 624 18 4 Fencing .. .. .. 340 1 0 Water-supply . . .. . . . . 41 14 3 310 0 10 Supervision and clerical— Proportion of Superintending Nurseryman's salary . . .. .. 26 0 0 447 7 4 Proportion of nurseryman's salary .. 140 0 0 740 1 8 Clerical assistance .. .. .. 210 6 32 10 6 £1,058 1 8 £12,964 16 7

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Temperature. Maximum. Minimum. Number of Days Frosts occurred. 1911. April May June July August September October November December .. , In. 1-63 0-41 1-34 1-35 049 0-75 0-83 2-30 1-39 12 4 12 8 4 8 8 12 17 Deg. Fahr. 76 63 60 48 62 65 73 73 72 Deg. Fahr. 30 20 18 15 22 26 29 2(1 29 2 20 25 29 25 16 9 6 4 1912. January February March 1-17 1 -13 3-17 12 12 13 84 93 7<i 29 29 27 4 2 8 Totals 16-26 16-26 122 122 150 1 i i