H.—34.

A variety trial has been carried on for three seasons, and two varieties and two strains have given outstanding results. They are — Winter grey averaged 26 per cent, more than B 49. Warrigal averaged 44 per cent, more than B 49. 475 averaged 11-4 per cent, more than B 49. 397 averaged 7-7 per cent, more than B 49. All the others yielded less than B 49. The above four have been sown again in field trials Oat-pickling.—A line of Algerians free from smut was pickled with various substances to see if we get here the good results from organic mercury reported elsewhere. The means of the five replicates m the field trials were as follows :—

(b) Herbage Plants. 1. Perennial Rye — Selection, self-pollination, and cross-pollination are being carried out as usual In strain-building, about 3 bushels of strain 131 were harvested, and the grain is being further tested by mowing and grazing. Propagation.—*. |- acre block of strain 131 was harvested for seed, and the seed is being sown lor bulk seed-production. Strain C 131 is a strain selected for drought resistance and production in the autumn and winter months. It is superior to certified lines of rye-grass in February and March (from field data) and in winter (from observation—yield data are not yet available), while it is inferior to them m total production in November and December. However, it is distinctlv less stemmv than these lines arid this may compensate for lower total production in the spring and early summer months 2 Oochfoot and Red Clover.-The work on cocksfoot and red clover is on similar lines to that reported or rye-grass Offspring tests, strain-building, and propagation plots have been established Xms worij is on the lines of that indicated in previous reports Propagation of Cocksfoot C 23,—The Farm Advisory Service has arranged to grow the seed harvested this year on certain farms under its control. The seed is being grown on contract The fields on which the seed is to be sown are specially fallowed and free from rye-grass and weeds ' Deep organic soils are chosen. There will be 40 acres of this seed available for next harvest, 11. Animal Nutrition. The large-range experiments on the feeding of sheep on different kinds of pasture are being con tinued. Eight hundred Comedales are being used in trials for various purposes on light land Feeding trials on pigs are being continued with different materials as the need arises An elaborate trial of the digestibility of various feeds is in progress. Four iron metabolism cages have been built to Dr. Franklin s design, and it is thought that these embrace all the good qualities of the designs seen at the various stations overseas. Each cage holds a sheep, which lives in its ease for several weeks on end. All its food is weighed and analysed, and all the urine and dung is similarfv weighed and analysed ; the digestibility of the foods-that is, their use to the sheep-is thus determined. These trials furnish an important lead to field trials, and may often point the way to improvements in feeding methods. J ~. *? **"* fir /* * ri t J * Um i PS and f eat " meal were the subject of investigation, and 00-effioients of digestibility of all tne food materials were established. In a second trial sheep were kept for twelve weeks on hays made of grass, clover, oats vetches and lucerne cut at different stages and harvested by different means. The losses in food substances due to different methods of harvesting were determined, and indications are given for the best stages for the cutting of hay, not from the point of view of the amount of dry matter, but from that of the amount of digestible food per acre. _ There is an immense amount of detailed analysis involved in such work and experiments but it appears to be well worth while, as a guide to farming practice. Another investigation has been started on the quality of protein in certain grasses This is being done as a guide to palatability, and Hawke's Bay rye-grass as grown in Canterbury is one of the materials under investigation. 111. Entomology. Investigations of the insect fauna of grain-stores were commenced, and many stores and flourmills have been visited. A list of the insects observed, with their frequency and the damage they do, has been prepared, and a survey of the methods used for their control has been completed It was found that inmost cases insects and mites were fairly easily controlled, largely because there is no long period of storage. Grass-seed cleanings held in store to await farmers' instructions are however, a fertile source of trouble, and recommendations are being made to grain and seed merchants to consider alteration of their procedure in this matter. Two cases of yery serious trouble in the storage of vegetable products were traced, and the advice given resulted in the extermination of the pest.

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Treatment. Treatment. _____ P er LM - per Plot. 'Agrosan .. .. 39-2 Formalin .. . 33-8 Ceresan ,. .. 38-1 Untreated .. 39. r