H.—29.

Two of the Cross 7 versus Solid Straw Tuscan trials included College Hunters, and one of these also included Dreadnought 5/27. In the latter, situated at Morven both Dreadnought 5/27 and College Hunters were significantly better than Solid Straw Tuscan by 13-8 and 12-3 bushels per acre respectively, while College Hunters in the other trial, which was located in North Otago, was significantly lower in yield than Tuscan by 2-9 bushels per acre. Bate of Seeding of Wheat. —Nine trials were laid down in each of which seedings of 60 lb., 90 lb., and 120 lb. per acre were compared, but two of these could not be harvested owing to lodging. With one exception, in which the yield from a seeding of 90 lb. was significantly lower than that from a seeding of 60 lb., increases in the rates of seeding resulted in increases in yield. The average increase in yield of 90 lb. seeding over the 60 lb. seeding was 1-8 bushels per acre, while the seeding of 120 lb. was on the average 1-8 bushels per acre higher in yield than the 901b. seeding. The results tend to confirm those of previous seasons and support the contention previously put forward that more rather than less seed should be used in practice. Babley-manuring. One experiment on the manuring of barley was laid down in Canterbury. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions at harvesting, harvest yields from the trial could not be obtained. Seed Treatment of Cereals (in Collaboration with Mycologist). In order to investigate the merits of Ceresan New, a proprietary seed-treating dust which ■it is claimed controls smut diseases of cereals, eighty-one field trials were laid down on wheat, oats, barley, or peas. These were simple trials carried out in all the principal wheat-growing areas, and each consisted of a strip sown with wheat treated with Ceresan New surrounded by the farmer's crop which had either been left untreated or treated with wet " pickle " or copper carbonate dust. A feature in many of these trials was the thicker and more vigorous germination of the Ceresan-treated cereal. In comparison with copper carbonate, formalin and bluestone Ceresan was at least as effective in controlling smut, while in some trials in which it was compared with no treatment, almost complete control of smut resulted from the use of Ceresan. Potatoes. Manuring. —Five experiments were laid down in 1933. The results of the 1932-33 season's experiments were published in the Journal for January, 1934. Source of Seed Potatoes Experiment (in Collaboration with the Agronomist). —An experiment is being carried out in which seed of an original line of Dakotas grown at ten different centres in the South Island last season is under trial. Further crops to provide seed for next year's yield trial are being grown at the various centres. The above investigation follows a series of similar trials carried out over three seasons and concluded in 1933 on the Arran Chief variety. The results of these indicated a marked inverse relationship between the amount of virus and the yield of each line. Seed grown in four localities having milder or more humid climates showed a progressive increase in the amount of virus and relatively small yields, while seed grown at other centres which have cooler climates because of latitude or altitude exhibited no increase in the amount of virus. Variety (in Collaboration with the Agronomist).— -Trials have been laid down in eight different districts to determine the varieties most suitable for each. Twelve varieties are represented in each trial. Swedes.and Turnips. Turnip-manuring. —Five experiments are being carried out in which mixtures of super and slaked lime are being tried out against a mixture of equal parts superphosphate and carbonate of lime, and against commercial basic super. In trials conducted over a number of seasons the use of a mixture of super and carbonate of lime appeared to provide the best means of overcoming serious germination injury likely to result from the use of super alone. Trials at the Plant Research Station with carbonate of lime from twenty different sources, however, have shown that there is considerable variation in the effectiveness of the different limestones in correcting injury caused by super. The cause of such variation and a possible remedy in the case of the more unsatisfactory lines of carbonate of lime is under investigation. Effect of Liming and Manuring on Club-root. —Two trials are being carried out in collaboration with the Mycologist on the effect of liming on the control of club-root. Varieties. —Various trials are being carried out in collaboration with the Agronomist or the Mycologist in which special varieties or lines of selected strains are being grown. Rape : Feeding-value of different Types (in Collaboration with the Agronomist). The feeding-value and relative palatability of two types of rape are under investigation in a trial at Marton Experimental Area. Lambs are being grazed on blocks of each type and live-weight increases are being recorded. Simple trials in which both types are compared with the farmer's commercial crop are being conducted on twelve farms. Tobacco. Manuring. —An experiment to investigate the effect of manuring on the yield and quality of tobacco-leaf has been laid down in the Bay of Plenty. FRUIT-TREE MANURING EXPERIMENTS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE PLANT RESEARCH STATION AND THE HORTICULTURE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. A total of sixty-three experiments is now under way. Fruit-manuring experiments are classified under the following headings : — A. Experiments on bearing trees under a system of replicated plots from which yields are being recorded. Six experiments laid down in the spring of 1930. B. Experiments starting on young apple-trees, which will be placed under measurement of yield when bearing commences. These are under a system of replicated plots. Two experiments laid down in 1931. C. Experiments to determine the effect of a complete manure with and without lime under system of replicated plots. Five experiments laid down in 1931.

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