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NELSON-MARLBOROUGH FOREST CONSERVATION REGION. Golden Downs Plantation> The acquisition of 8,500 acres in the upper Motueka district inaugurated the first State fdfestation project in the Nelson Province. The land acquired has proved of little value for agricultural purposes, being " deteriorated land " from a settlement point of view, so the commencement of forestation on this area is a step towards the solution of an urgent national problem. The area is handy of access to the Nelson-Bailer railway. The climatic and soil conditions and the nature of the country make it well suited for the growing of selected timber-trees*. During the year a topographic survey was made of 1,000 acres, and the formation of a local nursery was commenced. Bumgree Plantation. This plantation was established on the banks of the Awatere River, Marlborough, in 1903, for experimental purposes, but operations were discontinued in 1908. An endeavour is being made to Jill up blanks and consolidate the plantation. During the year 40,525 trees were planted to replace failures on 59 acres previously planted. Half a million seedlings were raised in the plantation nursery. Tasman West Plantation. The experimental plantation which was established in 1925 on the Moutere Hills on 5 acres donated by Mr. A. McKec was demarcated during the year and transferred to the Service. Proposals for 1927-28. 1. Establishment of 280 acres of plantation at Golden Downs. 2. Topographic survey of 10,000 acres. 3. Erection of necessary buildings and fences, and provision of implements for the above plantation. 4. Raising of 1,500,000 trees. 5. Thinning of 30 acres at Dumgree Plantation, and filling in of blanks. CANTERBURY-OTAGO FOREST CONSERVATION REGION. Nurseries. Tree stocks at the four nurseries in this region number 18,824,170 trees. The amount of seed sown was 3,156 lb., an increase of 1,659 lb. on the previous year. The bulk of the seed was sown in open lines and germinated well. A total of 831,050 trees were lined out, with very satisfactory results. Trees sent out from various nurseries numbered 5,088,631, an increase of 687,033 ou the previous year. The increased output went to the plantations ; sales to farmers, local bodies and companies showed a slight decrease for the year. A nursery in connection with the Balmoral Plantation was established during the year. Plantations. An area of 6,529 acres was planted during the past season, an increase of 1,668 acres on the previous year's operations for the region. A comparison of establishment costs shows a considerable variation between the different stations, and is of interest in comparing conditions of soil, &c., and the method used. Plantation. A . rea in C( f i H;r A , vre ' Acres. 1 s. d. Hanmer .. .. .. .. .. 1,530 2 17 7 Balmoral .. .. .. .. .. 2,991 116 10 Greenvale .. .. . . .. . . 720 3 7 6 Blue Mountains .. . . . . . . 1,288 314 9 The results of the year's planting were good at Hanmer, Blue Mountains, auil Greenvale ; but at Balmoral the losses were in some cases severe, owing to a long spell of dry weather. The greater portions of the plantings at the Blue Mountains and Greenvale showed 91 per cent, survival. The country planted up at Hanmer was very rough, steep, and broken, which made planting rather a slow process. The use of the carpenter's adze in place of the iron spear was a great improvement in this class of country. Established plantations are growing steadily, though the thinning of the older plantations is very necessary. Proposals for 1927-28. 1. Establishment of 7,000 acres of new plantation. 2. Direct sowing of 100 acres. 3. Development of improved methods in nursery and plantation practice. 4. Topographic survey and layout of 8,000 acres for year 1928 operations.

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