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Farmers' Field Competitions. Farmers' field competitions were carried on in various parts of the Dominion on much the same lines as in past years. There has been little or no extension of this work, and, as in previous years, the Division's assistance has been mainly along the lines of judging the competitions. The results of these competitions continue to be of much interest, and the information forthcoming for those farmers interested is invaluable. Some 850 crops were judged. Noxious Weed Control. Several new specifics were tried during the year. Generally they proved useless for the purpose. In addition, several further tests were made with chlorates, and these go to show that sodium chlorate is still the most efficacious and cheapest for the treatment of ragwort. Occysol was further tested and gave very fine results at a strength of 5 per cent. Calcium chlorate at the same strength gave about an 80-per-cent. kill. Field Experiments. The programme of field experimental and demonstration work has been carried on during the year and has related to variety, manurial, and other trials on all classes of roots and grains and the manuring of grassland. Owing to the necessity during the year for the strictest economy the work was reduced as far as possible : nevertheless, with the increased duties in other directions, the staff has been hard-pressed io watch, finalize, and repori on the various experiments. With the careful summarizing of the results valuable information continues to lie procured, and this information is disseminated to farmers throughout the Dominion by means of the Department's Journal and the instructional staff. During the year 568 experiments were conducted, as against 596 the previous year. Crop Certification. The areas of the various agricultural crops'to which the Department is certifying have increased to a considerable extent. From information available it is apparent that for 1932-33 there is an increase in the area coming forward for certification in respect of each crop being certified. In some cases the increase is phenomenal, particularly with respect to perennial rye-grass. In connection with this crop the area offered for certification for 1932-33 was 22,500 acres, as against 9,709 acres in 1931-32. It might be of interest to mention that in 1930-31 we sealed and certified 46,000 bushels of machine-dressed perennial rye-grass seed, in 1931-32 81,000 bushels, and while the final figures for 1932-33 are not yet available it is estimated that we will seal and certify over 200,000 bushels. This quantity represents about two-thirds of the total New Zealand production of perennial rye-grass seed in pre-certification days. The certification of seed is one of the operations which in these difficult times has helped the farmer. Not only has he benefited financially, but we are rapidly coming to the point where many of the pastures of the Dominion are much improved as a result of being resown with certified seed. The output from these better pastures, together with the income which must be forthcoming from a considerable export trade in New Zealand seeds, must have a very beneficial effect on the national prosperity of New Zealand. The amount received in certification fees during the financial year was £2,627 3s. 10d. Ensilage. Two or three seasons ago the staff of the Division attempted a vigorous ensilage drive throughout the Dominion. The energy expended in this direction was followed up subsequently, and one of the good features of the current season is the appearance of largely increased numbers of ensilage stacks, pits, and trenches throughout the various farming districts, but, of course, more so in some districts than in others. One would say unhesitatingly that the quantity of feed conserved in the making of ensilage during the 1932-33 season is considerably m excess of any previous season, and consequently many farmers are this year, owing to the making of ensilage, in a better position to meet, from a stock-feed point of view, adverse conditions than ever previously. A general improvement in the quality of the silage being made is apparent. Purchase of Seeds and Manures for Government Departments. As reported in my last annual report, an arrangement had been made by the Stores Control Board for the Division to be the purchasing body for all seeds and manures required for Government Departments throughout the Dominion. This arrangement has operated during the year 1932-33, and some requisitions for large quantities have been dealt with. The system of check-testing of samples drawn from bulk supplies, which is an integral part of the purchasing arrangement, has worked well and enables the office to keep a close watch over the quality of the seeds actually supplied. One is quite convinced that this arrangement is a good forward move, which, owing to the system of purchasing only on purity and germination, proved very much to the advantage of the various Government Departments concerned.

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