H.—29.

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procedure which would require to be imparted to officers in the field. There can be no question of the importance of the work. It should be the basis of all fields instructional efforts. It is still, of course, doubtful whether the conduct of instructional and inquiry work is compatible with, the discharge by the same officer of administrative duties in connection with rabbits and noxious weeds. It must be admitted that the outlook, the dual functions being adhered to, lias never been very promising for the. fields-instruction part of the programme. The work of the Fields Inspectors has been continued on lines hitherto prevailing, being confined almost entirely to the executive work connected with the control of rabbits and noxious weeds. In my last annual report comment was made on the fact that few of our Inspectors are even approximately qualified for any higher function. Education, training, special aptitude, and experience are necessary for an officer who is to be entrusted with the duties of instructing and advising the farming community. Experience can be acquired to an ever-increasing extent in the discharge of such duties, but education and training are pro-requisites which there has been little opportunity to acquire in this country, and less inducement to acquire where the measure of immediate reward is a fourth-grade Fields Inspector's salary. Experimental Farms. Central Development Farm. Crops and Pastures.- —The season was not very favourable for good results with crops and pastures, the month ol November being unusually dry, while dry conditions were again experienced from January to the etui of April. A considerable part of the cropping-area was devoted to wheat, both autumn and spring sown, comprising 39 A acres in all, Portions of the autumn wheat area perished from excessive wetness, notwithstanding attention to water-furrowing. Part of the area was cut for hay, and the balance averaged 25 bushels. Amongst the best yields were —Dreadnought, 40 bushels ; Major, 35 bushels ; Sensation, 32 bushels ; Garton's Victor, 32 bushels All autumn-sown wheats were grazed back on three occasions'with sheep. This is the first experience of autumn-sown wheat on this farm, and the results point to spring sowing as the better practice in this district. The spring wheats were sown on light shingly land, and suffered to some extent from the dry weather in November. This was particularly noticeable with Solid-straw Tuscan, as compared with the earlier-maturing Australian and Canadian wheats. The following yields resulted : John Brown, 31 bushels; Huron, 301 bushels; Marquis, 28 bushels; Bobs, 27-i bushels; Comeback, 23 bushels : Thew, 22f bushels : Solid-straw Tuscan, 14 bushels. These wheats were sown on the 21st and 22nd. September, on land out of lea turned over a few weeks before sowing. This practice has given good yields of wheat in normal years, but, as the figures indicate, was not conducive to heavy yields in the dry season which ensued. The quality of the grain was, however, excellent. Thirty-five acres were devoted to oats, mostly Algerians, for chaff. An average crop of If tons per acre of clear bright chaff resulted. A few special varieties were threshed. The grain-yields were low, this being accounted for by the late sowing and a dry November. The following yields were recorded : Storm King, 43 bushels ; O.A.C. 72, 35 bushels ; Fulghum, 33 bushels ; Garton's Abundance, 33 bushels ; Algerians, 31 bushels. Ten acres of varieties of barley yielded an average of 42 bushels. Mangolds sown for variety and manurial tests did well, though very dry weather was experienced immediately after sowing, which made the take a bit patchy. Maize and forage crops were good. A large variety of fodders were grown for supplementary feed for cows. Grass sown last autumn, though a good take, has not given a great deal of feed this last summer, as growth in spring was slow, and, the dry weather setting in early in November, the fields never became well covered, and in consequence dried up very rapidly. A small area at the piggeries was sown in crops for grazing with pigs. These have been fed off, and records have been taken, of increases made on the different crops. The pumpkins grown last year were eaten greedily by all classes of stock, and should prove a useful crop, doing fairly well even through such a dry year as last year was. Ten acres were seeded to lucerne in November, an excellent stand resulting. Improvements. Two new residences, wool-shed, and piggeries were finished this year. The wool-shed and piggeries were very badly required, and, though, some alterations were necessary after their being handed over by the Public Works Department, they arc now giving every satisfaction. A dip was also put in, and is a great improvement. In the past the sheep had to be driven some miles to dip, which made the work very cumbersome. A new fence has been put up on both sides of the farm road, only the best material being used, and should last for many years. Gates have been properly hung, painted, and numbered. This work gives the place quite a different appearance. Many of the fence-lines are still, however, in bad repair, and will have to be entirely renewed by degrees. The roadside was ploughed and sown in grass, but this did not take well, and will have to be resown. Trees have also been planted at half-chain intervals on both sides of road from entrance up to homestead. Tractor. —The small 8-16 horse-power Avery tractor purchased in September has rendered satisfactory service, being convenient for stationary work as well as for work on land. From the 8th October, 1917, to the 31st July, 1918, the area ploughed by the tractor was 235 acres. The average rate of ploughing was slightly over 3 acres per day, including time taken up in attention to tractor, shifting from paddock to paddock, and. delays occasioned by remains of stumps and stones. In good fair-sized free paddocks a ploughing-rate of 5| acres per eight-hours day was achieved. On a steady run for twenty-six days the area ploughed was 101 acres, for an average consumption of 1-A gallons of " Powerin " per acre. Tractor and plough have been operated throughout by one man. The