11

.C.—lβ

Buildings, Improvements. —The steady increased expenditure in the item horse-shoeing and repairs was responsible for the Department's decision to carry on blacksmithing work at the nursery, and accordingly a roomy smithy, with all necessary appliances, was erected, and all horseshoeing, plantation and nursery repairs are effected by the blacksmith, principally during wet weather, whilst the remainder of his time is devoted to general nursery work. The main stable building has been rendered considerably more serviceable by the addition of two extra stalls and loose-box for young horses, and the inclusion of a much-wanted shed for wagon and dray. Arrangements are also well in hand for the extension of sizing-shed, as the amount of room available last winter was quite inadequate for satisfactorily dealing with nursery stock. An area of about 12 acres used as a horse-paddock was drained with 2 in. tiles, ploughed, and sown in black oats, and extra returns fully justified the extra labour incurred. About 11 acres of ground on lower portion of nursery was sown down in grass, and the erection of about 18 chains of fencing permits the using of this block for grazing purposes. Shelter plantations are growing rapidly, and are now giving sufficient protection to the seedbeds without having to resort to our customary artificial method of scrub fencing. 1,200 sheltertrees, principally Pinus muricata, were planted on the boundary-line adjoining cemetery reserve, and these have, with few exceptions, grown well. It is gratifying to report that the attack on Pittosporum hedges by the native scale has not been so persistent as in the two former years, and there is every reason to believe that the spread of the disease has been checked by judicious spraying. The average number of men employed was 12*11. Horse-feed to the value of £103 9s. id. was harvested from 23 acres. The oat-crop was a decided success, and there is every likelihood that our stock of oaten sheaf will more than meet requirements. About 9 tons of rye and clover and 3 tons of carrots were grown on spare blocks, but the latter produce is somewhat below the average quality. The following items of labour were also included in list of expenditure : Formation and gravelling of roads, cultivating plantations, painting outbuildings, attending shrubbery and general maintenance. Statements of expenditure and values are appended. For the coining season arrangements are being made for the transference to local plantations of about 1,250,000 trees. The following is a record of rainfall and temperature for the year : —.

Statement of Expenditure. £ s. d. Amount at the 31st March, 1908 ... ... 15,245 17 1 Tree-growing ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,150 15 6 General maintenance and repairs ... ... ... ... 150 11 1 Nursery-formation ... ... ... ... ... 82 19 10 Horse-feed purchased and grown ... ... ... ... 104 7 6 Manures ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 5 11 Tree-seeds ... ... ... ... ... ... 116 16 3 Tools, implements, &c. . . ... ... ... ... 78 1 6 Buildings, smithy and additions to stable ... ... ... 118 17 9 Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 921 Miscellaneous works ... ... ... ... ... 20 3 9 Proportion of Nurseryman's salary ... ... ... ... 150 0 0 Supervision ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 6 8 £17,270 4 11

Month. Rainfall. Number Hi 8 hesc of Days of Rain fell. ioer / mometer. Date. ■ Lowest Reading of Thermometer. Date. ■rQ'v,-<i> 1908. Inches. 3-32 1-86 4-29 8-89 2-76 0-86 3-74 2-04 4-14 Degrees. 71 65 66 52 56 69 78 75 79 Degrees. 28 26 26 24 26 27 36 38 32 April ... May ... June ... July ... August September October November December 1909. 17 11 16 18 10 6 1G 12 16 3rd 6th 5th 4th 14th' 15th 11th 29th 26th 19th 25th 20th 12th 26th 16th 14th 24th 9th January February March... 4-80 1-19 2-03 19 7 9 86 88 86 23rd 5th 9th 33 40 40 6th 19th 29th Totals... 39-92 157