H.-29.

the year arrangements were made for a further batch of share milkers to work some of the sections. The pastures and the carrying-capacity of this country are so satisfactory that the Lands Department contemplates throwing open the balance of the Ngakuru Blocks for settlement in the near future. With respect to the Galatea Estate, 2,770 acres were sown in permanent pasture and 650 acres in annual crops. Dry soil conditions, particularly during the summer months, decided the Lands Department to amend its proposals as regards the settlement of Galatea. The Lands Department is taking over the management of the block sown to permanent grass, and intends working it in conjunction with the remainder of the Galatea Estate. This Division is therefore released from further work on Galatea, with the exception of the supervision of the Demonstration Area on the estate and the giving of advice as required relative to the general management of the sown pastures. In connection with the development of the Whangamarino Block, pastures were grazed and topdressed during the year and a temporary water-supply reticulation scheme was installed. The pasture establishment has been quite satisfactory, and the Lands Department is arranging to settle the block in May or June, 1934. In view of this, this Division will not be concerned further with this block other than, as may be required, the tendering of advice to the incoming settlers. During the past few years some development work was attempted on the Pakihi land, near Westport. A small area was sown to grass. This block has quite recently been taken over by the Lands Department. Farmers' Field Competitions. These competitions, the value of which it is difficult to overestimate from the point of view of agricultural instruction, have been continued in various parts of the Dominion on much the same lines as in past years. These competitions provide a means whereby both the local farmers and the departmental officer for the district gain first-hand information and valuable field experience. The actual competitive side of the movement, whilst necessary as an initial step, actually later becomes the least important aspect of the movement. Field Experiments. The programme of work in field experimentation has been conducted at about the same volume as the previous year. The number of experiments and demonstrations has been curtailed during the last two or three years as a matter of necessity due to economy, but, nevertheless, with the large number of other functions performed by officers throughout the year, particularly the Small-farm Plan work, the experiments in operation have been as many as could be satisfactorily handled by the field staff. There is no doubt that the number of questions to be decided by field experiment is very large, and the provision of additional finance to allow of an extension of this work is desirable. One outstanding feature during the year of the field demonstrations has been the placing of potash in its right perspective as a top-dressing for a large block of country in North Taranaki. As a result of this work the Division has recommended the use of not less than 1 cwt. of 30 per cent, potash per acre on the country in question, even although, for financial reasons, it means reducing the usual amount of phosphate applied. The response to potash top-dressing in North Taranaki is so marked that it requires to be seen to be believed. A short article dealing with this matter was published in the Department's Journal for April, 1934. Crop Certification. The certification operations in so far as certain field seeds are concerned has been continued with minor amendments. A major amendment was made by the deletion of first-harvest seed from the classes of rye-grass. All such seed now comes into the ordinary permanent-pasture-seed class. The variety of seeds dealt with in certification has been increased by the inclusion of swede and turnip seed. During the season 1933-34 approximately 130 acres of these two seeds have been inspected in the field and the produce sealed pending machine-dressing. The major certification operations relate to perennial rye-grass, and with respect to this crop the acreage entered for certification for 1933-34 showed a reduction of about 45 per cent, on the area entered in the 1932-33 season. Not only has the area greatly decreased, but it is anticipated that the yield per acre will be lighter this year than last, and, in consequence, the amount of seed forthcoming is not expected to exceed about half the quantity certified in the 1932-33 season. At one stage it was feared that there would be a heavy carry-over of certified seed from the 1932-33 season, but in the spring of 1933 stocks of seed changed hands rapidly, and most of the 1932-33 seed was absorbed prior to the 1933-34 season's seed coming on the market. Such a state of affairs to my mind indicates clearly that were it not for the present financial crisis the Dominion could quite easily absorb large quantities of good certified strains of pasture seeds for some years to come. It is undoubtedly a fact that an increase in the use in the Dominion of certified seed would be reflected in the agricultural position of New Zealand. The certification operations generally are reported on more fully in the report of the Agronomist. Ensilage. The making of ensilage on an increasing number of farms is apparent. Farmers are rapidly realizing the value of this as a winter fodder and also as a stand-by in times of drought. There is no question that the ensiling of surplus fodder is being practised more and more each season. Not only does the ensiling of this material ensure the farmer against the shortage of feed in seasons tending to a shortage, but it also assists in keeping pastures in better condition.

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