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Temporary Nursery.— In pursuance of the policy to improve the land reserved near the, prison camp and make it available for nursery purposes, a further area of virgin ground amounting to 30 acres was cultivated and sown with a mixture of grasses and clovers. The total area now dealt with in this manner is about 120 acres. This is a larger area than is required for actual nursery purposes, but by working the several enclosures in rotation, the soil-fertility is being increased, and the areas not in tree crops are providing grazing and winter feed for the horses and other animals kept. Sixteen tons of oaten sheaf and 30 tons of hay were harvested this autumn, and this will provide ample feed until next harvest. The shelter-belts of Monterey pine planted through this cultivated land have grown splendidly, and should in a few years make an appreciable difference in the crops. Prison Labour.- This class of labour, with which all the work on this plantation is done, continues to be satisfactory. Work was performed to the value of £2,793 2s. Id. during the year, and the average daily number employed was 32-90. Summary showing the Area of Kaingaroa Plains Plantation (6,007-3 Acres in Trees). How occupied. Acres. Pines.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,641-55 Douglas fir .. .. .. .. .. .. 340-17 Larch and chestnut mixture .. .. .. . . .. 25-58 Roads, tracks, and fire-breaks .. .. .. .. .... 446-1.8 LJnplanted land .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,901-52 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 33,355-00 Attached is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year : —

Rainfall, Temperature, &c.

Puhipuhi Plantation. (Area, 1,200 acres, approximately ; altitude, 1,000 ft., approximately.) The past year, although not constituting a record for the amount of rain, was a wet one. The total rainfall was 64-16 in., which is 27-64 in. less|than last year's fall. April, June, July, September, and October were the wettest months. Rain was recorded on 123 days and frost on If days. The planting of 40,000 Pinus radiata on an area destroyed by fire and on an area of poorly grown eucalypts was very successful. The trees have made an average growth of about 9 in., and the deaths, which, occurred chiefly|in the summer, are estimated, to be about 8 per cent. There is very little humus in this soil, and the subsoil, being of a volcanic nature, cracks badly and dries out after even a short period of dry weather. A factor which has militated against the growing of eucalypts is the strong prevailing winds off the east coast. The young trees did splendidly until they became tall enough to catch, the wind, when the growth became slower and the tops assumed, a round bushy appearance. In sheltered gullies and on sloping ground facing south or north good results have been obtained. It is now proposed to plant all exposed slopes and ridges with Pinus radiata, and conserve only the areas of eucalypts which are

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Temperature. Minimum. Maximum. Number of Days Frosts occurred. 1918. In. 5.84-2-41 6-14 2-95 2-39 3-55 10-23 3-80 3-65 16 12 20 1.7 9 13 21 19 10 Deg. F. Deg. F. 33 70 28 64 27 58 23 58 23 61 24 67 31 69 30 80 28 81 6 11 19 11 13 2 2 2 April May June July August September .. October November .. December .. 1919. 2-81 2-10 2-71 10 8 11 33 83 45 85 30 78 1 January February March Totals 48-58 166 67