33

C—lβ

Schedule 3.—Trees, &c., transferred from Starborough Nursery to Plantations, Nurseries, &c., 1907-8.

Tapanui Nursery. (Area, 120 acres, altitude, 500 ft.) Rain fell on 127 days, with a total fall of 2591 in., the maximum monthly fall being .'!54 in., in February, The highest shade temperature recorded was 92°, on the 2.3rd January, and the lowest 24°. "on the 29th July and the 13th August. The unusually dry weather oxperienoed during the year may be gauged from the fact that for the past iiitit- yean an average annual rainfall of 38*94 in. lias been recorded locally, and springs and creeks from which this station directly obtains its water-supply again ceased running for a prolonged interval. Towards midsummer the watering of seedlings became a difficult problem, and finally it was necessary to convey water from a stream half a mile distant. Arrangements for the extension of our water service are now well in hand, and future difficulty in obtaining a supply is not anticipate,!. Reviewing the past eeason's work, it is most encouraging to report the excellent results attend ing tree-growing operations ai tins nursery. Hardwood-seed sowing w.-is carried on in May, wheu small quantities of oak, ash, and sycamore were sown under favourable conditions. The result satisfactory, as may be seen on reference to Schedule 1, although the ash-eeed, through being insufficiently matured when gathered, showed little eigns of vitality on being taken from the pit, and consequently this orop was a partial failure. A trial sowing of 141b. of Pagtu eylvatiea produced 3,600 sturdy trees, which have since made good headway. Fine results were obtained from the war's conifer-seed-sowing operations, which were commenced on the 19th October, and continued for eight days. The estimated number of seedlings raised is 3,037,000, or more than two and a half times the number grown in any previous year.

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Where sent. Name of Tree. Jumber of Trees. Value per Thousand. Total Valne. Remarks. Larix Europsea Pinue Auntriaca (3 years) . Austriaca ponderosa (3 years) , pondercsa ponderosa, var. Benthamiana » Larii'io muricata „ contorta » Torreyana Robinia pseudo-acacia.. 187,825 17,875 19,450 20,500 86,650 £ s. d. £ g. d. 2 5 0 422 12 1 3 0 0 58 18 G 2 8 0 43 15 3 3 0 0 61 10 0 •1 5 0 59 19 8 £ s. d. 422 12 1 58 IS 6 43 15 3 61 10 0 59 L9 8 Dumgree Plantation i I 25,000 108,650 5,100 1,125 240 82,275 2 10 0 62 10 0 a 5 o 244 ii a 3 5 0 11 9 6 2 5 () 2 10 7 2 10 0 0 12 0 1 10 0 133 8 3 62 10 0 244 8 8 119 6 2 10 7 0 12 0 133 8 3 All did well for two months after planting, but during the months November to February nearly all died owing to tuc drought, scarcely 10 per cent, being alive. I Tapanui Nursery Larix Europcea (2 years) (1 year) 494,690 20,500 1 44,00Q 64,500 1,086 8 8 2 ft 0 46 2 6 1 0 II 44 (i n 1,086 8 8 46 2 6 44 (i li • 90 2 6 90 2 6 Ward School, Flax- f bourne Pinue muricata * Cost of planting same .. 650 2 5 0 19 3 5 19 0 7 8 3 Rotorua Nursery -I Two light horses, £25, £20 200 seed-frames, at 19s. 10d. 910 ft. piping, at 3£d. .. 45 pipe-iittinge 43 0 0 198 6 8 13 5 5 3 4 7 259 16 8 Buatangata Nursery J Iron and netting for 52 seed-frame*.. 400 ft. p ping, at 3Jd. .. 30 pipe-fit iijgs 40 16 1 5 16 8 1 18 1 48 10 10 Dumgree Plantation .. Tip mi i Nursery Ward School Hut rua Nursery HuAtangata Nursery .. As per details above 494, 690 u4,")0n 650 f 1,086 8 8 'JO 2 6 7 8 3 259 16 8 48 10 10 • • - Totals 559,840 ; 1,492 t> 11 W. Choj Nui IB, ser man in Chaii :<■■