H.—29,

The Farm.

The farm is now found, to be rather small for the increasing animal needs of the station, and it is hoped that the purchase of a further 80 acres will be made in the coming year. The transfer of about 10 acres at the back of the racecourse through adjustment of Government property and racecourse property will assist the stock position, but the area first required cropping and putting down in good grasses. The dry season has made the sale of some of the young stock necessary, for the Wallaceville farm requires fairly heavy stocking in flush seasons and light stocking of winter and dry summer seasons. Sheep have done very well, but the dairy cows have not kept up the supply expected. Cream from these cows is sent to the Featherston Dairy Factory, while skim-milk is used for pigs and small experimental animals on the place. Another trial in growing of lucerne is being made, several patches of ground having been sown in different parts of the farm. For the first time on record hoggets were affected with rye-grass staggers in a paddock in which ergot could not have been prevalent. Pink-eye also showed up in the flock sheep. Foot-rot has practically been eliminated by careful culling and treatment. Mr. R. Matthews, of Wairongomai, Featherston, was good enough to donate six ewes from his flock for an inbreeding experiment. The ram to be used was donated by Mr. R. A. Donald, Papatahi, Featherston, the strain being the same as the ewes. Some of these ewes may be mated to a second ram of good family belonging to Mr. Matthews. The work of the farm has been well conducted by Mr. G-. L. Wickenden. Much formative work is in progress connected with the new buildings and layout of the farm, and the difficulty of getting satisfactory labour at the wage which may be offered has rendered the completion of such work difficult.

5—H. 29,

33