H.—29.

importance. We are greatly indebted to Mr. G. 0. K. Sainsbury, of Wairoa, for his assistance in the identification of this moss material. The policy of exchange with other institutions has been continued, much useful material having been received. In return we have been able to supply collections both of general interest and serving the needs of investigators abroad of special systematic problems. The herbarium now contains close on 20,000 sheets. RESEARCH. The investigations referred to in previous reports were carried on a further stage during the year. These deal with the grasses and rushes of New Zealand, the systematic description of the whole alien flora of New Zealand, with notes on the species of economic importance. In addition general researches on the systematics and ecology of various groups have been carried out. New investigations instituted during the year have been the work of Mr. Zotov on mosses and my own on lichens. In the course of the latter, opportunity has been afforded to specialists abroad to work up much material in a field that has long been neglected. I have undertaken to attend to the botanical side of an investigation into lucerne types. This is in co-operation with workers in other parts of the Empire and in Europe. The scheme is entitled an "International Test of Types of Lucerne." The types being studied at the various co-operating centres are—Khivian, Semiryechensk, Turkmen, Turkestan, Asia Minor, Hungarian, Provence, and Grimm. The aim, so far as this Section is concerned, is "'to find out the regularity in the arrangements and change in morphological, physiological, and biological characters as affected by environment." The plots were laid down in January. Germination was excellent in all cases, and the plants have now been singled for study of their botanical characteristics. ROOTSTOCK INVESTIGATIONS. As a result of the work already carried out we have now been able to make definite arrangements for the conduct of these researches. The work has been classed under four heads: (1) The testing of the No. 1 type of Northern Spy rootstock selected by this Station against three of the East Mailing types, on three scion varieties; (2) the testing of stocks derived from root-cuttings against those derived from layering; (3) the testing oi various strains in different apple varieties on uniform stocks. Strains of Delicious have already been budded for this test, and other selected varieties will be taken up next season; (4) the testing of a number of stocks that have shown in orchards the production of trees of outstanding merit. The aim is to discover how far this merit is due to stock influence. Mr. Woodhead has zealously carried out his duties in this work. SEED-TESTING SECTION. N. R. Foy, Seed Analyst. For the calendar year ending December, 1933, a total of 15,193 seed samples were received for purity analysis and/or germination tests, representing an increase of 3,243 on the number tested for the same period in 1932. This work necessitated the making of 9,000 purity teets and 15,000 germination tests—a total of 24,000 tests. Of the total, approximately 12,700 samples represented commercial lines of seed, the balance of 2,500 representing chiefly samples tested for the Department's own information, only 239 having been submitted directly by farmers. For the same period 1,824 samples of perennial rye-grass were examined under ultra-violet light, of which total 1,455 were reported for departmental purposes, mainly in respect of certification. During the year 1,608 officially drawn samples of certified seed were tested and reported to the holders of the seed. A total of 1,386 samples of certified rye-grass seed were examined and 39, or 3 per cent., were rejected as having failed to conform to the required standard of purity for machine-dressed seed. The annual revenue obtained from the testing of commercial samples totalled approximately £1,100. State Seed Purchasing.— Īot the financial year 1933-34, selections based on unit value were made of 600 lines of seed, representing a total purchase of 307 tons of seed valued at approximately £22,000. Check tests were made on samples drawn from the bulk deliveries and reported to the Stores Purchasing Officer with necessary commentary as to the agreement of quality of purchase and bulk samples. INVESTIGATIONAL ACTIVITIES. Deterioration of Seed during Shipment. Further experimental shipments were made during the year with Chewings fescue, the seed used being that specially grown under various manurial treatments on the Experiment Area at Gore. The 1933 season was a particularly favourable one, and as the seed was of a high vitality, marked deterioration under ordinary hold storage conditions did not occur. The specially treated lots, however, did not suffer any losses at all. The whole of this work has been tabulated and summarized and is now in the press for publication. Production of Paspalttm Seed in New Zealand. Arrangements were made in eo-operation with the Fields Superintendent at Auckland for the fencing-off of a number "of small areas suitable to the experimental production of seed. Owing to a most unfavourable season very little seed has been produced this season, certainly insufficient for the experiment. The areas will be closed again next year, together with additional plots. A number of samples are being collected throughout the northern" districts and will be forwarded for analysis. Further laboratory work has been done, the results of which confirm the previous impression that New Zealand growers appeared to be unacquainted with the harvesting requirements peculiar to paspalum seed. The Use of the Picric-acid Test in Strain Diagnosis or White Cloveb. Approximately 1,000 of these tests have been made, there being generally a close conformity between the classification as determined by the test and plot trial. A small number of lots which show apparent discrepancy are at present under retrial in plots, and on the results of these the degree to which the picric acid may be employed will be determined.

44