C. —3.

Westland Region. The only nursery work was the formation of some small seed-beds in which were sown 4 lb. Thuya plicata and 2 lb. C. Lawsoniana. The first-mentioned seed failed to germinate, but good results were obtained from the latter. Trees transferred from the nursery during the year numbered 621,800 P. ponderosa, made up as follows : For local use, 2,000 ; transferred to Nelson and Southland Regions, 393,000 and 131,500 respectively; for local bodies, schools, &c., 95,300. The main nursery area is now closed, and arrangements are being made to put the land to some other use. In the plantation good growth was made and all species are looking healthy with the exception of the Douglas fir, which are stunted and bushy. Opossums were numerous in parts of the plantation and some damage was done to the Thuya plicata. G-eneral maintenance-work —clearing of tracks and fire-breaks, fire-patrol, &c.—was carried out. , Canterbury Region. Nursery operations were confined to Balmoral, where the estimated stock at the end of the year was 868,800. During the year 1,444,200 trees were lifted and used for State afforestation, planting by local bodies, schools, &c. A crop of 605,300 trees was raised from 112 lb. of seed. The only new planting was 97 acres at Eyrewell, 64,700 trees being used ; certain areas at Hanmer Springs, Balmoral, and Eyrewell were reconditioned, 970,000 trees being used for that purpose. Treegrowth generally was good, but the extremely dry season played havoc with some of the young planted trees at Balmoral and Eyrewell. Southland Region. Nurseries. —At Pebbly Hills 60 lb. of seed were sown, which produced a crop of 143,000 seedlings, and 32,000 poplar cuttings were struck and lined out. The total tree stocks at this nursery is 388,000, of which 207,000 are available for use during the coming season. At Beaumont Nursery tree-growth was poor until late autumn, when the young stock came away much better ; trees here number 128,000, of which 89,000 will be available for planting during the current season. At Tapanui 17,500 poplars were lifted for planting in Blue Mountains Plantation, and 5,500 cuttings were lined out, but only a moderate strike occurred owing to drought, conditions. The total stock in Naseby Nursery is 30,000 trees. Afforestation. —Very little new planting was done —viz., Blue Mountains, 20 acres ; Pebbly Hills, 8 acres —but blanking was carried out at Naseby, Blue Mountains, and Pebbly Hills, P. Murrayana and P. ponderosa being used. Generally speaking, the planting as a whole showed satisfactory results.

Approximate Cost of Paper,—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,610 copies), £29.

Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—1935.

Price 9d.]

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