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The Station's wine continues to grow in popularity, and sales of wine this year are the highest yet recorded, having exceeded the previous highest total by 3,000 gallons. Comparative figures of wine sold during the past six years arenas follow : — Total Sales. Year. Gallons. 1935-36 .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,625 1936-37 .. .. .. .. .. .. 15.125 1937-38 .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,428 1938-39 .. ~ .. .. .. .. 12,512 1939-40 .. .. .. .. ..14,155 1940-41 .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,308 Tobacco-culture . The area under tobacco in the Nelson Province, which constitutes practically the sole area where tobacco is grown commercially, during the 1940-41 season was 2,963 acres, and the anticipated yield is over three million pounds (3,000,000 lb.). The season has been favourable throughout, although harvesting was interrupted in the middle of March through heavy rains. The quality of the leaf is reported to bo good. No serious injury has been reported through high winds, hail, &c. The quantity of tobacco produced annually is increasing sharply, this year's crop being estimated to yield almost 500,0001b. more than last year : the crop harvested four years ago was little more than 1,500,0001b. The increase in acreage over last year is approximately 377 acres. Hop-culture. The season for hop-culture which is centred in the Nelson Province, was favourable, and the crop obtained was an average to good one. Sufficient labour was available to complete the harvest in a period of four to five weeks. The acreage in hops in the past season is estimated to be 600 acres, and the total quantity produced exceeded 3,000 bales. The hop-pickers came from farther afield than usual. The Beekeeping Industry. The beekeeping industry is making steady progress, and the past season has been a profitable one for beekeepers. Up to early December indications were for record crops of honey, but the dry weather which followed in some districts reduced the final returns well below early expectations. The districts adversely affected by lack of rainfall and strong drying winds were Auckland, Manawatu, North Canterbury, and North Otago. In the main, however, weather conditions were favourable for the development of clover and. for nectar secretion, resulting in a good total output of marketable honey. The effective administration of the Apiaries Act by officers of this Division, and a stabilized market for honey in New Zealand brought about largely by the Honey Section of the Internal Marketing Division, has encouraged many beekeepers to extend their apiaries and colony strength during the year. Registration of Apiaries.—Regulations for the registration of apiaries from one hive upwards came into force in July, 1917, and by March, 1920, 6,392 persons had registered as beekeepers. Since then the total of apiary registrations has progressed steadily, and during the past season fresh registrations were numerous. The general trend in beekeeping is illustrated by the following table : — Number of Number of Season. Registered Beekeepers. Hives Owned. 1919-20 .. .. .. .. 6,392 69,877 1929-30 .. .. .. ..6,925 104,239 1940-41 .. .. .. .. 7,768* 127,113 *Registered apiaries. The present distribution of hives in the various apiary inspection districts throughout the Dominion is as follows : — Apiaries. Colonies. Auckland .. .. .. .. 1,450 14,850 Hamilton .. .. .. 1,009 29,696 Palmerston North .. .. .. 1,771 23,642 Hastings .. .. .. .. 944 12,268 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 419 5,160 Christchurch .. .. .. 1,098 22,093 Dunedin .. .. .. .. 1,077 19,404 Honey Grading. —The work of classifying the grading of all honey sent to the central packing depot provided by the Government for the voluntary use of beekeepers has proceeded smoothly. During the year 1,262 grade certificates were issued, covering a total of 19,116 cases (1201b. each) of bulk honey and 890| cases of honey packed, in small containers for shipment overseas. Some 5731 cases (each 120 lb.) failed to reach the required standard, and had to be rejected for export purposes, chiefly on account of low specific gravity. The following shows the quantity and value of honey exported from the Dominion during the last five years ended on 31st March : — Cwt. Value. 1937 .. .. .. .. .. 7,774 24,658 1938 .. .. .. .. .. 3,804 12,658 1939 .. .. .. .. 14,298 42,605 1940 .. .. .. .. .. 5,321 17,205 1941 .. .. .. .. ~ 10,590 39,291

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