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prevention of their ingress from the adjacent Blue Mountains by erecting special fences 6 ft. in height, this precaution was deemed unnecessary at other stations, where the ordinary 3 ft. 9 in. structures were provided. Should the animals persist, in their destructive habits notwithstanding repeated stalking, our only safeguard will be in heightening the boundary-fences by the attachment of additional barb wires, and persevering with the shooting of the animals within the enclosure. The damage created by the red deer is confined chiefly to the ash and oak compartments at Dusk}' Hill, and in a smaller measure to larch at Hanmer Springs. The idea advanced by sportsmen that deer gradually acquire a taste for the foliage of certain species after previously ignoring such trees is borne out by the fact that a few years ago only trivial damage was reported; but now not only is the same foliage eaten readily, but leaders and laterals alike are chewed, and bark occasionally peeled. Undoubtedly the presence of stags gives greater cause for alarm, as they rub and strike their antlers against the trees at certain periods, necessitating the cutting-back to ground surface of certain deciduous trees. Needless to enlarge upon the volume of work inseparable from raising new " leaders," although at times we are compensated by being able to substitute perfectly straight boles for originally ill-formed ones. Officers in charge of the affected stations, although greatly handicapped by the density of the young plantations, were nevertheless successful in destroying four of the intruders during the year. Destructive Influence of Grass-grubs on Nurseries. It has been generally recognized that our greatest hindrance to successful tree-raising in the most southern nursery is the presence of the larvse of Odontria zealandica, the beetles of which invade in large numbers the areas under young trees and green manurial crops. So far, by the application of certain combative measures, we have been able to greatly counteract the ill effects of the grub; but it is evident that more rigid preventive measures will require to be undertaken if the usual standard of success is to be maintained. The interest taken in the matter by Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Government Biologist, is commendable, and his valuable co-operation will surely lead to the determining of the local life-history of the insect and other information as will permit the formulating of practical control-methods. On forwarding a collection of beetles to the Biologist, it was ascertained that two species of Odontria were included -— 0 xanthosticta and 0. zealandica —so that the main flights of each species may not occur simultaneously. In the meantime all possible data is being collected, and present experiments with apterite, kainit, sulphate of copper, vapourite, permanganate of potash, and arsenate of lead will disclose to what extent these soil-fumigants and poisonous sprays may be put, in freeing the ground from the pest. Grass grows luxuriantly around the nursery enclosure, and it is certain that the beetles are attracted to our highly cultivated ground from the adjoining pastures. It is evident that although the seed-beds at the sowing period (October or November) may be free from the adult beetles or larvse, the results from the main flight may prove quite disastrous to a seedling crop which in the earlier stages gave much promise of success. It would appear, then, that our efforts must be directed—Firstly, in blocking the ingress of the beetle to the seed-beds during the flying period; secondly, by spraying the surface with a chemical that will prove distasteful to the insect, and thus restrict its selection of the ground for egg-laying; thirdly, by inoculating the ground generally with a soil-fumigant of sufficient strength to make the situation uninhabitable to both the beetle and larva, whilst creating no interference to tree-growth. Experimental and Educational. It is imperative for the successful control of any growing institution to provide facilities for conducting worthy experiments connected with the work, and, although the soundness of suggestions emanating from officers of the staff are, when time permits, fully inquired into, the vast amount of detail matters calling for personal attention forbids many experiments being given sufficient application or study. Soil-fertiliza tion . Any new methods of restoring the fertility of the soil and replacing the required humus are carefully tested. For the second season an interesting development has taken place on the area relieved of Fraxinus excelsior. On lifting the two-year-old crop of English ash one is impressed with the woody nature of the tap and issuing fibrous roots. By carrying out the usual cultivation-work, and sowing the relieved area with carrot-seed, an exceedingly fine crop of carrots evenuated, whilst the yield from a specially prepared block adjoining did not compare at all favourably. The opinion previously formed that the hardwoods so speedily reduce the- fertility of the soil that a temporary relief from either tree or root-growing is essential after every crop of ash-trees must now be discarded, although further tests in this direction will be carried out. We have hitherto refrained from using extensively leguminuous crops for manurial purposes on account of the supposed refuge thus provided for grass-grubs, and have, as a substitute, kept the necessary areas in fallow, and applied bonedust and superphosphate. Consequent upon the two successive wet seasons, the growing and subsequent ploughing in of such crops as peas, crimson clover, cow-grass, and oats has been imperative, and it will be possible to accurately determine next year which, if any, of the mentioned cereals or grasses provides a breeding-haunt for Odontria beetles. The application of kainit at the rate of about 8 cwt. to the acre has been attended with much success, although the chloric salts not being absorbed by

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