H.—29.

FIELDS DIVISION. REPORT OF R. B. TENNENT, DIRECTOR. Tke weather conditions generally throughout the year were satisfactory, with the exception of the northern portion of the South Island, where drought conditions prevailed, particularly in parts of Marlborough and Nelson. The autumn and winter were comparatively mild and dry, while the spring was also mild, and it was not until well on in the summer that copious rains were experienced in the majority of districts. The pastures generally have shown quite normal growth, except in the districts which suffered from the drought. Aeable Ceops. The cereal crops of the Dominion have not fared as well this season as in the previous season, and owing to broken weather at harvesting-time some difficulty was experienced in certain districts in getting the crops cut. The yield from both wheat and oats will not be up to last year's average. As regards the wheat crop, that portion of the crop threshed during the period January-March, 1934, amounting to 4,387,472 bushels, gave an average yield of 32-44 bushels per acre, as against an actual yield for the 1932-33 season of 36-54 bushels per acre. From the area under crop and at the yield being obtained it is estimated that the total yield of wheat for the season 1933-34 will be approximately 8,500,000 bushels, as against an actual yield of 11,054,972 bushels for the season 1932-33. Although the total yield will be considerably less this season than in the previous season, the position is made much better by the fact that at the end of November, 1933, stocks of wheat held by millers, merchants, and farmers totalled 3,891,706 bushels, as against 1,360,052 bushels at the same date in 1932. It was estimated early in the season that a total area of 294,500 acres was sown to wheat in the 1933-34 season, as against an actual area of 304,711 acres harvested the previous year. Taking the stocks on hand at the end of November, 1933, and the estimated total yield from the 1933-34 season's crop, there should be ample wheat for the requirements of the Dominion and possibly a surplus available for export. As in the case with wheat, the yield per acre of oats has dropped considerably when compared with that obtained in the season 1932-33. The estimated area sown to oats for 1933-34 was 336,500 acres, as against an actual area harvested the previous season of 375,500 acres. Actual threshings for the January-March, 1934, period disclose a per-acre yield of 43-47 bushels, as against an actual yield over the whole Dominion for the 1932-33 season of 44-16 bushels. The area from which oats were threshed for the five seasons ended with 1932-33 averaged 24 per cent, of the total area under that crop. Assuming that a similar proportion will be threshed this year, the total yield of grain should be approximately 3,200,000 bushels, as against an actual yield of 5,132,183 bushels for the season 1932-33. It is estimated that 27,500 acres were sown in barley for the 1933-34 season, as against an actual area harvested the previous season of 17,196 acres. As in the case of both wheat and oats, the yield per acre of the barley crop for 1933-34 is estimated to be lower than for the season 1932-33. The actual yield per acre for the latter season was 34-34 bushels, while the estimated yield for the 1933-34 season is 33 bushels per acre. Assuming that the same percentage of the barley crop as was threshed last year will be similarly dealt with this year, the toal yield of grain should be approximately 650,000 bushels, as against an actual yield of 561,017 bushels for the season 1932-33. The area in potatoes in 1933-34 was estimated at 22,350 acres, as against an area in the previous season of 24,605 acres. At certain seasons of the growing period the weather conditions were unfavourable to the potato crop, and it is doubtful if the crop as a whole will be as heavy as the previous season. Even should the crop be lighter, however, it is considered there will be ample supplies of potatoes for our requirements and possibly a surplus available for export, although such surplus will not equal in quantity that available for export from the 1932-33 season's crop. Artificial Fertilizers : Top-dressing. While the prospects for profitable returns for dairy-produce appear decidedly gloomy, many dairyfarmers are endeavouring to fulfil their usual top-dressing programme as far as possible. At the same time, there is no question that the low prices, of butterfat are steadily forcing a reduction in the area of grassland top-dressed, and the problem is becoming increasingly difficult. Fertilizer-works report an increase in the output of super, but the utilization of this additional material is due not to an increased area being top-dressed, but to a curtailment in some districts of the use of basic slag, which has risen to a prohibitive cost and is being replaced by super. Instruction in Agriculture. The instructional services of this Division continue in great demand, and during the past season it has been difficult to attend to all requests as rapidly as possible owing to the staff for the greater part of the year being engaged in connection with the Small-farm Plan scheme. However, a

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