G—lo

There was a decrease of 88,452 lb. in the butterfat-production, or approximately 11-5 per cent., from units during the year. Production totalled 762,7741b., and this is considered as very satisfactory, considering 1 the conditions prevailing. "Wool-production from development schemes and unit farmers was 973 bales, compared with 983 bales for 1945. The King-country area continues to experience difficulty from ragwort,, and the dairy units in this area have found it a sound practice to run a proportion of sheep with their dairy herds to control this noxious weed. In the Hauraki district the practice of sending out to each unit monthly butterfat schedules of all units in the district, together with appropriate farming comment concerning, for example, the necessity of shutting up hay paddocks, and, hints concerning the growing of supplementary crops, has been adopted. This practice is producing very useful results and introduces a spirit of emulation among the units. In the Waikato district a portion of one unit property has been turned over to market-gardening on a share basis, and it is expected that success in this case, which seems assured, will encourage other settlers in the neighbourhood to devote some attention to the production of vegetables as a side-line. The district is particularly suited to vegetable-growing, although a vegetablegrowing undertaking in another area did not prove greatly successful. Supplementary crops in the way of oats, soft turnips, and maize have proved specially helpful during the dry season, and the necessity for some supplementary feed of this nature has been impressed upon units. Attention during the year has been devoted to increasing production by the use of pedigree bulls with good butterfat backing, and the introduction of sires by proven bulls is being considered in suitable cases. Te Kuiti The area covered by the scheme comprises heavy-type country and withstood the dry spell very well indeed. Live-stock are in good condition, but the pastures are now showing the effect of the restricted manure quota. The scheme is now in credit to extent of £2,276. Mahoenui An area of gorse country was cultivated with tractor and sown down in swedes, but owing to the consistent dry weather the crop was not a success. The larger portion of this area was later sown down in temporary grass and oats. Mangaora This scheme comprises a heavier-type country on the west coast, but development is seriously handicapped by lack of adequate water in the summer months. The area is not suitable for ploughing, being very hard in the summer and boggy in the winter. Consequently, it is difficult to renew the pastures and fertilizer is therefore essential to maintain existing grass. The live-stock bred are healthy and suitable for transfer to other schemes for fattening. Ngahape This scheme, which lies in the Otorohanga district, comprises light country originally infested with both ragwort and rabbits. The latter have been exterminated, but there is still a large percentage of ragwort through the pastures. This is more noticeable in the areas disked than in the ploughed parts.

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