C—lb

40

Schedule 111. — Trees Account. Number Trees received during year Less to replace blanks Planted on new area Previously planted .. .. .. .. .. ..152,896 Total number planted on 173 acres (average age, eight years) 152,896 Schedule IV. — Property Account. £ s _ j. Land (420 acres) : Crown land not charged to Forestry Account Buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 3 9 Stock Improvements .. .. .. .. .. ~ 50 0 0 Fencing .. . . . . .. . . .. .. 387 11 2 Stores in hand .. .. .. .. ..19190 £514 13 11 Balance-sheet. £ s. d. Total expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,631 0 5 Less Property Account . . .. .. .. .. 514 13 1.1 Cost of operations .. .. .. .. .. .. £2,116 6 6 173 acres planted (average age, eight years). Estimated value of plantation per acre .. . . . . .. 10 5 0 A. W. Roberts, Nurseryman in Charge.

Hanmer Springs Nursery, Canterbury. (Area, 40 acres ; altitude, 1,225 ft.; established, 1902.) Rain fell on 128 days during the year, the total precipitation being 45-82 in. The highest shade temperature (88°) was registered on the 13th January, and the lowest (19°) on the 15th June. Frosts were recorded on eighty-one nights during the year, the lowest temperatures being registered during the months of June and July. Comparing the records with the previous year's, an improvement is shown in the weather conditions experienced throughout the year. There were eleven wet days less, a decrease in rainfall of 4-91 in. ; the maximum temperature was 88° as against 90°, and the minimum temperature 19° as against 15° the previous year, with a decrease of eight nights with frost. The rainfall was very evenly distributed throughout the year, as will be seen by a perusal of Schedule I, the minimum fall (1-98 in.) being registered during the month of June, and the maximum fall (6-88 in.) during October. On the whole, weather-conditions were favourable for all nursery operations, and the results obtained amongst seedlings and lined-out stocks are highly satisfactory. Seedling Trees. Seed-sowing operations were carried out under favourable circumstances, both as regards weather and condition of soil. The operation was carried out fully a month earlier than the previous year, and the results obtained point to earlier sowing being the more satisfactory. Tree-growth throughout the seed-beds is above the average, the growth being very sturdy, and the plants presenting a very healthy appearance. The grass-grub is not in evidence to any extent, and what little damage is apparent is confined entirely to the larch seedlings. The thorough and constant working of the soil prior to seedsowing, and the judicious use of insecticide at the time of sowing and subsequently, evidently has the effect of keeping the pest in check. Pinus austriaca. —This is a very fine crop, the 500,000 young plants being particularly well grown. About 112 lb. of seed was sown. Pinus ponderosa (special).—Though a thin crop, the plants are sturdy, about 130,000 being produced from about 40 lb. of seed. Pinus ponderosa. —From'the 40 lb. of seed sown a fine crop of about 70,000 sturdy plants resulted. Pinus Benthamiana. —The germination was not good, but the plants are sturdy, about 5 lb. of seed producing 9,000 strong trees. Pinus scopulorurn. —A fine crop resulted from the 4 lb. of seed, the plants being very well grown. Pinus muricata. —A fair crop, but of medium growth. These plants root very poorly the first season, resulting in a considerable percentage of loss after lining-out. 1 lb. of seed produced 11,000 plants. Pinus radiata. —The germination of this variety was very good, a crop of about 90,000 young trees was raised from 30 lb. of seed. Larix europaea. —This variety germinated very poorly. The crop of 300,000 young trees, however, are particularly sturdy. 751b. of seed was sown. The grass-grub has commenced operations among these trees, but the damage so far is hardly noticeable.