o.—h

associated at the tree-planting camps much valuable assistance lias been received. I am particularly grateful to the Gaolers for the interest they have taken in the work, and their ready assistance in helping it along. Mr. E. H. Taylor, clerk, left the service at the end of February, and was succeeded by Mr. W. Montgomery,of Rotorua Nursery. Mr. S. Curie, Nursery Foreman at Rotorua Nursery, was retrenched when the Ruatangata Nursery was dosed, and was succeeded by Mr. A. Gordon, Nurseryman iji charge, Ruatangata. Mr. Mason. Plantation Foreman at Puhipuhi Plantation, was transferred to Waiotapu Plantation, where be fills a similar position. H. A. Gocdie, Superintending Nurseryman, North Island.

Rotorua Nursery. (Area ol enclosure. 163 acres; altitude, approximate. 1.000 It.) The operations at this nursery during the past year have been attended with much success, which is due in a large measure to the favourable weather experienced. The rainfall amounted to 39-58 in. falling on 137 days, and is the lowest tall ever recorded in this nursery. Lasl year 76-67 in. fell on 173 days. The minimum temperature recorded during the year was 23' on the 25th June, and the maximum K7~ on the 31st January. The temperatures show very little variation from last year, when the minimum and maximum was 24° and 88°, in July and December respectively. Seedling Trees. Trees raised during the year are estimated at 3,316,250, and their value £3,302. The usual quantities of seeds were sown, and the percentage of germination is up to the average, although in one or two instances very poor results were obtained. Details of the crops raised will be found in Schedule V attached, and the following remarks on the different species grown may be interesting : Larch (Larix curofaea). —Five hundredweight of seed was sown, resulting in about 2.000.000 plants : the percentage of germination being 4. This result is up to the average, and the growth made by the young seedlings is remarkably good, fully 40 per cent, of them being 6 in. high. The dry weal her experienced during January and February was commencing to have an ill effect upon the crop, but timely rains early in March soon freshened them up. and practically no loss occurred. Austrian Vine {Pinus austriaca). —From 14 lb. of seed 17,000 trees were raised, 5 per cent, being the rate of germination. The growth is well up to (h< , average. Corsican Pine (Pinus Larido). 900,000 trees were raised from 3 cwt. of seed, the rate of germina lion being 8 per cent. Exceptionally good growth has been made by the seedlings, fully 50 per cent, being 2 in. high ; but the rate of germinal ion is low in comparison to last yea r, when 33 per cent, of ihe .seeds produced trees. Sugar-pine (Pinus Lambertiana). The crop raised from 13 lb. of seed an ted to 12.000; germination being at the rate of I I per cent. The seed, of this pine is exceptionally large, there being about 2.000 to the pound ; and on this account it is an expensive tree to grow. Good growth has 1 n made by the seedlings. It is not intended to grow further quantities of this pine, as the cost is too high. Heavy Pine (Pinus ponderosa). The crop raised from 13 lb. ol seed numbered 100,000. Rate of germination, 25 per cent. This is low compared with last year, when HO per cent, of the seed germinated. Splendid growth has been made by the seedlings, and it is probable that the whole of them will require to be lined out next spring. Monterey /'hie (Pinus insignia). A very poor crop resulted from the 25 lb. of seed sown. These QUmbei 50,000, showing that the rate of germination was about 10 per cent. Last year 50 per cent. of the seeds germinated. As usual, this species has made good growth, and the whole of the crop will be fit for permanent planting during the coming planting season. Benthom's Pine (Pinus ponderosa var. Benthamiana). —A fairly good crop, 10,000 trees, resulting from 151b. of seed sown. Rate of germination, 10 per cent. Good growth has been made by these seedlings, and they will probably need to be lined out next spring. Weymouth Pine (Pinus strobus). —This is the poorest crop of this species ever raised here, the germination of the seed being at the rate of 0-23 per cent. Two thousand seedlings were produced from 30 lb. of seed, which goes to show how inferior was the quality of the seed. A small sample packet of seed was received from the Forestry Department in Canada, and this germinated at the rate of 10 per cent. A trial lot of European-saved seed is being procured for next year's .sowing. Doughs Fir (Pseudo-tsuga Bouglasii). This is a good crop. From 30 lb. of seed 120,000 trees were raised, the rate of germination being 10 per cent. Excellent growth has been made by the seedlings. most of which are 3 in. high, and it will be necessary to transplant them into nursery rows next spring. Apple-scented (linn (Eucalyptus Stuartiana). From 3 Ib. of seed sown probably 300.000 seedlings resulted, but a,s only about one-third of these will make sufficiently strong growth, they have been estimated for stock-taking purposes at 100,000. This latter number will suffice for planting the area set aside for eucalyptus this coming winter. As usual, this species has made strong growth, and all the available plants will be permanently planted as one-year-olds. Experimental Lots. — The following species were raised for experimental purposes: Pinus canariensis, densiflora, Massoniana, Monticola, and Tsuga Mertensiana. With the exception of the last-named, seed of all these species were presented by foreign Governments or societies. Specimens of each will be planted, and results noted for future guidance. All of the pines made good, growth. /'. canariensis being particularly noticeable in this respect. /'. MassowUma is a, synonym of /'. Thun bergii, the latter being now recognized as the correct name for this species. It is a native of Japan, being argely planted in thai country lor all purposes ; it is used for sea-coast planting, is planted for fuel.

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