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The whole of the irrigable portion of this farm, amounting to 330 acres out of a total area of 350 acres, has now been border diked and during the season 350 acre-feet of irrigation water has been used. During the season 620 ewes together with 120 ewe hoggets were carried. From the ewes 721 lambs were tailed and 9,332 lb. of wool was obtained from the flock. During the coming season it is intended to carry 750 to 800 ewes and 160 hoggets. Wheat was grown on 32 acres and yielded 861 bushels ; 227 bushels of perennial rye-grass seed were saved and approximately 3,000 bales of hay were harvested from the lucerne area of 25 acres. The object on this farm is to explore to the full the greatest carrying-capacity possible under irrigation on this class of land, which without irrigation is one-ewe-to-the-acre country. Demonstration Farms The Division has continued to be associated with the work of the Northern Wairoa (Dargaville), Stratford, and Waimate West Demonstration Farms, and experimental work on these farms is being continued. The Winton Experimental Farm has been used for pasture, fertilizer, and annual crop trials. Fertilizers and Lime As from Ist July, 1949, controls over the sales of all fertilizers were lifted and both phosphatic and locally produced organic fertilizers have been on an open market. The International Emergency Food Committee also relinquished the allocating of supplies of sulphate of ammonia and of potash, and as a result greater tonnages of these fertilizers have become available to New Zealand. Further, the Marketing Department relinquished its wartime function of being the sole importer of sulphate of ammonia and potassic fertilizers, and the importation of these fertilizers has now reverted to normal trade channels. With the lifting of rationing it was considered that the output of the existing chemical-fertilizer works would be insufficient to meet the increased demand for phosphatic fertilizers. Thus the Government approved of a subsidy on imported basic slag, finely ground North African phosphates, and guanos. The maximum subsidy was £3 per ton, reducible so that in no instance would the ex-wharf selling-price, less subsidy, fall below £9 10s. per ton. The subsidy arrangements for imported phosphatic fertilizers applied only to shipments effected before 30th April, 1950, and the scheme is to be reviewed early in May, 1950. It is expected that the 1949-50 imports of phosphatic fertilizers for direct application will be approximately 45,000 tons of basic slag, 50,000 tons of finely ground North African phosphates, and 8,500 tons of guanos. For superphosphate manufacture the requirements were estimated at 429,000 tons of raw rock phosphate, which would manufacture approximately 715,000 tons of superphosphate. Locally produced organic fertilizers continue to be in very short supply. The use of lime remained steady during the year. Lime transport assistance was continued and the former rebate of 50 per cent, on rail charges (after the first 15 miles and up to the 115-mile limit) was increased to a 75 per cent, rebate as from the Ist July, 1949. Other benefits were increased accordingly, while in special areas the maximum railage distance has been extended. During the year a Lime Advisory Committee was appointed and held its first meeting in September, 1949. The Committee is to report from time to time on certain aspects relative to the production costs and distribution of lime.

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