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has been built, and is now being used in connection with the working of the apiary. The whole of the work is under the direct supervision of Mr. E. A. Eaip, Apiary Instructor. Registration of Apiaries. —All apiaries of from one hive upwards required to be registered at the triennial registration which took place during the month of June last (1920). To date, some 6,375 persons, representing a total of 84,326 hives, have registered. There are still, however, a fairly large number of beekeepers who have not done so, and this has necessitated proceedings being instituted against several such persons to enforce the regulations. The action taken should act as a warning to others who have not yet registered. The compiled lists of registered beekeepers are of great assistance to our officers in carrying out systematic inspection in the various districts. Staff. In conclusion I have to thank all officers attached to the Division for the manner in which they have carried out their respective duties during the year. As lam retiring from the Service on superannuation at the end of June, I take this opportunity of tendering my thanks for their loyal and valuable assistance rendered at all times in the past in the carrying-out of the many and varied activities dealt with by this branch of the Department.

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION AND EXPERIMENTAL FARMS BRANCH. Introduction by the Director-General. The activities of this branch of the Department were well maintained during the year. No appointment has yet been made to the directorship, the control having remained under my general charge, with the assistance of Mr. A. H. Cockayne and Mr. B. C. Aston, while Mr. J. L. Bruce has superintended the larger experimental farms. The work of the agricultural instruction service is of a twofold character, one part comprising that of actual direct instruction and advice, the other consisting of domonstrational and experimental work having as its object the determination of sound agricultural practices and the solution of the problems that confront the farmer in every district. This demonstrational and experimental work is carried out either on areas controlled by the Department, such as at Puwera, where gum-land problems are being investigated, and Winton, where the economics of pasture-production under Southern condition; are being studied, or on subsidized farms, such as at Stratford and Manaia, where practical dairy-farming on up-to-date lines is being demonstrated, and the adequate feeding of dairy cows and its relation to production is being determined. In addition, single-purpose demonstrations and experiments in co-operation with farmers, dealing with liming, top-dressing, and general crop-production, are being carried out in various districts. So far as direct advice and instruction is concerned, this is handled by means of correspondence, personal visits to farmers where desirable, meetings and demonstrations on farms and experimental areas, illustrated lectures, and the dissemination of agricultural literature both mimeographed and printed. Further, the Instructors are largely concerned in the boys' and girls' clubs and farmers' competitions movements, and their services are in request for the judging of agricultural exhibits at shows. From a consideration of the work carried out by the Instructors during the past year it is clear that these officers are fulfilling not only a function that is of great importance to the agriculture of the country, but also one which is welcomed and appreciated by the farmer. During the past few months it has been found impossible for the Instructors to accede to the whole of the requests that have been made for their services, a fact which confirms the necessity for a strengthening of the staff. Mr. A. W. Green, Manager of the Ruakura Farm, which has further advanced in its development on educational lines, must be accorded great credit for the good work he has done. The Wcraroa Farm has shown continued improvement, and the Manager, Mr. W. J. McCulloch, has worked hard and well to bring this about. His efforts are thoroughly appreciated. During the year Mr. A. Macpherson, Fields Instructor in charge of the Canterbury District, retired on superannuation after some twenty years' service with the Department. I take this opportunity to record an appreciation of his varied services and of the value of his mature experience and energy in relation to many branches of the work. He was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Ward, Instructor in Agriculture, Wellington, Mr. F. W. Greenwood being appointed to the latter district. In the Otago District Mr. R. P. Connell, Instructor in Agriculture, Dunedin, resigned after about a year's good service to take up other employment. His successor is Mr. R. B. Tennent, who took charge in November last. Since the close of the official year Mr T. W. Lonsdale, who for some years had successfully tilled the position of Manager of the Moumahaki Experimental Farm, has resigned from the Service to take up farming on his own account. He carries the good wishes of the Department for equal success in his new venture. C. J. Reakes. Agricultural Instruction Service. The following are reports (abridged) furnished by the officers in charge of the instructional work in each district: — Auckland : T. H. Patterson, Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland. Investigation and Demonstration. —Further substantial progress has been made at Albany and Puwera, particularly at the latter, with the work of breaking in gum lands of the types represented by these two areas. At Albany the aim has been, on this better class of gum land, to assist the small settlers locally. Linseed has been grown very successful! v, also root crops, including soft turnips, swedes,