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C—lβ.

Gbnbeal. My connection with the Scenery Preservation Commission terminated on the 31st March, from which date I resumed my ordinary duties, and I have to thank Mr. HA. Goudie, Nurseryman in Charge at Rotorua, for the able manner in which he has carried on the supervision of the Department during the year, as well as the compilation of this report. The following are the reports of various stations.

EwEBUEN NuESEEY. (Area, 49 acres; altitude, 1,400 ft.) During the past year rain fell on 113 days, with a total of 1741 in., the maximum monthly fall being 382 in recorded in January. The minimum shade temperature, 13 deg. Fahr., was registered on the 7th June, and frost occurred on 170 nights. The highest temperature was 81 dec on the 13th December. ■ . , . Frost occurred during every month of the year, and the rainfall was somewhat higher than last year, and distributed over a greater number of days. . The total rainfall since the inception of the nursery is 15423 in., or an average of 1659 m. for the past nine years, and the number of days on which rain has fallen is 759 The highest reading of the thermometer was 96 deg., in February, 1896, and tins temperature has yjj^j | J[f^ r jJ l^ g JJJ , 5 k * erv dry one, and it was feared that the lined-out trees would suffer, but as rain set in directly after planting the situation was saved, and the crop is the finest grown since the initiation of the nursery. , , • Pinus maritime, which was grown for experimental purposes, made very good growth and transplanted well. Pinus halepensis have also made very good growth, although they were a total failure the previous year after being lined out, owing to the damp condition of the soil consequent 00 the seed-beds have made fair growth, but the crop of Pmns Laricio was not as good as it should be, and a large number " damped off" after germinating. -. Larch is a very good crop, and all the other varieties sown have done well. One pound ot seed each of Pinus Jeffreyii and Pinus Torreyana was sown for trial, and both have grown satisfactorily, but as they have not yet had a winter to contend with it is hard to give a definite opinion as to their suitability for extensive growing here. The number of trees " lined out" was 356,636, at a cost of 4s. 7Jd. per 1,000. The number of trees sent out to Government plantations during the year was 15/.4UU, their octrees sent out to date amounts to 772,562, and their value £2,257 9s. sd. • The number of trees of various ages in the nursery at the 31st March was 945,950, their total value being £1 672 13s. 9d.; and the number raised since the commencement of operations is 1 694,582, of a' value of £3,861 os. sd. The details of the preceding figures will be found m Schedules Ato A 3 (appended), and the summaries. a a During the year the horse and hand hoes have been kept in use as much as possible, and weeds, &c kept from seeding. ~ . , , , . Land not required for -planting was utilised for growing horse-feed, and an area ot about 4 acres was sown down in oats, the yield being 11 tons of good oaten sheaf. Although the rainfall was not heavy, this shows what can be grown in this district with good cultivation A new stable and workshop of wood, with concrete foundation, was erected. The old workshop has been converted into men's quarters, and is now convenient and comfortable. The whole ot these improvements were carried out by nursery labour. The average number of men employed during the year was five (day-wages). Details of expenditure, values, &c, will be found on schedules appended. The following is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year: —

Eweburn Nursery.

A. W. Roberts, Nurseryman in Charge.

Month. Rainfall. Number of Days Rain fell. Maximum Temperature. Date. Minimum Temperature. Date. Number of Days on which Frost occurred. 1905. April ... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December 1906. Inohes. 1-65 0-70 1-47 0-69 0-38 1-63 0-92 2-01 1-71 11 4 8 7 6 13 8 13 15 Degrees. 68 62 50 48 48 54 60 76 81 • 1st 10th 21st, 25th 23rd 2nd, 31st 25th 5th, 6th, 17th 13th 13th Degrees. 22 16 14 14 16 25 21 26 26 23rd 25th 3rd 4th 11th 25th 11th 24th 24th 13 23 28 31 29 17 9 7 2 January February March 3-82 2-07 : 0-36 14 10 4 78 74 73 11th 11th,14th 2nd 28 31 25 7th 20th 30th 4 2 5 Totals 17-41 113 170