C.—l.

in an increased calving mortality amongst dairy herds, and also militated to some extent against normal butterfat production during the early part of the season. These conditions, however, were more than offset by the favourable weather experienced from mid-summer onwards to the end of the period. Good supplies of both hay and ensilage were saved. The production of ensilage, for which this district is eminently adapted, is being more enthusiastically exploited, and if this source of feed-supply receives the attention it merits, the drawbacks of a severe winter would be to a large extent eliminated, particularly in regard to dairy-farming. Root crops, confined mainly to turnips, which are grown only on a limited scale, have thrived remarkably well, particularly so in the case of later sowings. A comparatively large additional area of occupied farm land has been brought into production during the period, this being to no small extent due to the assistance given under the unemployment schemes for farm-improvement, and also to the necessity for increasing production to offset the low prices ruling for farm-produce'. The low prices ruling for farm-produce has resulted in an increased number of applications for relief being received from Crown tenants. Each application received sympathetic consideration according to its merits. In some cases, however, the information furnished by the applicant has disclosed payments of other charges at the expense of the rent, thus precluding the Land Board from giving the application the consideration it might otherwise merit. The use of manures and fertilizers has shown a general increase, particularly in regard to lime, the local limekilns at Ross and Koiterangi showing a substantial increase in outputs as compared with last year. Local prices for lime is being gradually reduced, the lowest quotation for burnt lime being 255. per ton at the kiln. The importance of lime to the successful farming of land in this district cannot be overstressed. Dairy-farming. —The butterfat production for this period discloses a substantial increase in that of last year. Systematic group herd-testing has now been generally adopted throughout the district, and the average for last season of 230-76 lb. of butterfat per cow for the district puts a very favourable aspect on this phase of the farming industry. As systematic testing is practically in its infancy in this district, a general improvement in butterfat output may be expected. Proper provision for the saving of supplementary winter fodder would also materially assist in this direction. Local factories are advancing up to 9d. per pound on this season's output, and when the final payments for the season are made a drop of about one penny per pound on last season's prices might be expected. Sheep-farming. —Although sheep and wool generally, in common with other classes of produce, are giving a poor return to the producer, fat lambs have sold comparatively well. A few early trucks from this district realized the satisfactory figure of 28s. per head at Addington, and other satisfactory sales of fat lambs have been recorded throughout the period. Wool, however, in some cases has not returned the cost of the handling, and in some of the more isolated parts of the district this item could only be marketed at a definite loss. Settlers thus situated were so far discouraged as to leave their flocks unshorn.

CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The most serious feature of the past year has been the severe drought which affected most of Canterbury. The winter was rather favourable, though the frosts continued very late, but stock, mostly had come through in good condition. Apart from beneficial rains in September, front country had practically no rain from September till February. This meant that quite a few wheat crops, &c., had to be fed off, and in many cases turnips and rape were sown twice or more. Although the dry conditions may have perhaps benefited some of the hill country, the general conditions of sheep returns meant that their position was not at all improved. Over the district as a whole this is probably the most trying year farmers have had for fully thirty years. Pastoralists. —The wool-clips this year were good, but prices have been very poor, even though fine wool recovered a little. Surplus sheep in the back country were hard to quit at any price, and there was not the same demand for stock for fattening on account of the drought in the front country. General Mixed Farming. —This has been a disappointing year for the mixed farmer, and in places on the heavier land where wheat crops were fair, many of them suffered through floods and heavy rains in February. There were quite a few cases where last year's potatoes were not dug on account of the low prices, and this season the returns have been very small. Dairying. —As Canterbury has not enough rainfall to be essentially a dairying province, the dry season has been disastrous, many herds being dried off at an early date. So great has been the shortage of feed that in many cases farmers have had to use the roads for grazing to keep their cows in milk at all. This on top of the low prices has been a very discouraging year for the dairyman. Orchards and Small Properties. — The late frosts and hail did a lot of damage for fruit-farmers and small holders. Further, the number compelled to depend to a certain extent on local market produce has reduced prices generally for the products from these small holdings. The results have meant that our arrears have seriously increased, and special meetings of the Board are shortly being held to consider the whole question of arrears. We have the recharged postponements of last year accumulating on top of present deficiencies. The Chamber of Commerce scheme instituted last year was the means of an equitable distribution of production and also of keeping the more deserving farmers on their holdings, and it is hoped that it will be continued for the coming year as well. I would like to refer to the assistance this Department has received from Lincoln College in the irrigation experiment being conducted at Seafield Settlement, which it is hoped will prove a very instructive lesson for much of our light plains land.

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