A.—4

16

" Government Agricultural Farm, Tulaele. —Substantial progress has been made at the farm in spite, of the shortage of labour, which until recently we have had to contend with. Since the arrival of the present manager, Mr. Davidson, in October last, much work in addition to that of a preparatory nature has been accomplished. A garden nearly 4 acres in extent has been laid, out, paddocks fenced off, water laid on, &,c. Preparations are at present under way to lay out land for experimental plots. The garden is now getting into shape ; and, as showing the progress achieved, the following fruits and vegetables may be enumerated as having been grown, in most cases with very satisfactory results : Beans, radishes, lettuce, Avocado pears, limes, tomatoes, oranges, bananas, pineapples, papayas, carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, watercress, breadfruit, cabbage, cow-peas, pigeon-peas, peanuts, melons, pumpkins, beetroot, parsley, maize, egg-plant, kohlrabi. Most of the produce, has been sent to the Government Hospital at Motootua and the Central Hotel, and a small quantity has been sold to the public. The Government school has been supplied with bananas. " In February last a consignment of citrus-plants from California, numbering 320 trees, arrived in excellent condition, and consisted of oranges (Washington Navel, Thomson Improved, Mediterranean Sweet, Ruby, and Jaffa), mandarins (Dancy Tangerine), lemons (Eureka, Lisbon, Villa, Franca), pomelos (Marsh's Seedless, Duncan), sweet limes, and limes (Tahiti, Rangpur, and. Mexican). The plants are making good growth, the loss due to overheating on the voyage being not more than 7 per cent. " Fodder-grass Experiments. —A. small parcel of about a score of varieties of grass-seeds have been ordered from. Australia, the intention being to experiment at the farm, for the purpose of obtaining pasture and fodder grass. The experiment will be conducted on a small scale, and the results carefully watched. Later, when the necessary data in respect to the most suitable varieties for growing in Samoa has been ascertained, plantings on a larger scale will be undertaken by the Crown estates in connection with their lately developed cattle scheme. In view of the very high prices at present ruling for horse-feed this scheme should be productive of most useful results. Experiments with various grasses were carried out in 1917 at tho wireless station and Vailima, but owing to the insufficient staffing of the Department at the time I was unable to devote proper attention to the work. " Early in February I received a parcel of seeds from the Hon. Q. F. Roberts, American ViceConsul, with the request that I would give them a trial and report results to him for transmission to Washington. The seeds have been planted at Tulaele, and I am awaiting the report of the farmmanager thereon. " Chickens and Ducks. —An order has been placed with New Zealand for three pens of White Leghorn fowls and one pen of Indian Runner ducks. I hope to receive these in due course, and. the birds may form the nucleus of a small chicken-farm. In connection with the foregoing scheme, wo hope to grow our own fowl-feed, such as maize, pigeon-peas, &o. These, supplemented with, an occasional mixture of pollard, should keep the birds in good condition, with an upkeep at a very small cost. " Cattle. —I have arranged with, the Crown estates for thirty head of cattle, the grazing of which on tho farm will enable us to keep the place in better order. " Rainfall. —The following monthly record of rainfall for the year 1.920 has been supplied by tho Director of the Samoa Observatory :—

" Cruelty to Animals. —I beg to bring to notice the fact that there, is no Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Samoa, and that something of the kind is badly needed. Much cruelty is (usually unwittingly) caused to animals and birds by the Natives, who require, to be better educated regarding their moral responsibility towards the lower orders of creation." On the 4-th August, reporting upon an inspection made during April, May, June, and July of all Native plantations in Upolu, the Director of Agriculture says : — " This inspection was undertaken primarily to adjudicate on the land-cleaning competition, which, commencing in October last, terminated in March, but opportunity was taken to explain the new Beetle Ordinance to all Pulenuus, to fix beetle quotas, and to go through the respective districts with the Pule Faatoagas for the purpose of initiating them in the details of their work. Not less important, I took occasion to expound the new Copra Ordinance, in regard to the provisions of which some of the Pulenuus had very little knowledge. I also went over all the copra-sheds. Some of those I found to be in a defective, condition, letting in the rain, with the result that considerable quantities of copra were spoiled. (I have since advised merchants to this effect, and they have replied undertaking to remedy the defects complained of.) It is satisfactory to be able to report that in the interval since the new Ordinance came into force there has been a great improvement in the quality of copra brought in.

January February March April May June July August September October.. November December Total per Month. mm. 339 286 282 232 176 183 151 335 69 353 488 305 Maximum for ,, , , ■,. ■ m j. T T late ol Maximum, Twenty-tour Hours. mm. 100-0 17 00-8 15 48-0 9 00-9 12 55-4 21 03-2 29 23-3 1.9 86-0 21 10-7 20 100-0 21 115-7 1 54-2 12 Total for year 3,199