608 



of teas and hybrid teas received from England in 1906 are not proving 

 satisfactory. Many have died and the remainder are not doing well. 

 It seems to me that roses do best on their own roots in this country. 

 All the above plants have been grafted on the briar stock. 



Violets. 



11. The number of violet beds has been increased and improved ; 

 632 £ bunches were despatched during the year. 



Decorative Plants. 



12. A good supply of flowering and decorative plants has been 

 maintained, both in pots and in beds. English flowering annuals have 

 done exceedingly well and have been an increased source of pleasure to 

 visitors. 



Several new things have been introduced during the year and have 

 proved valuable and showy plants, especially Coleus thyrsoideus and 

 Salvia zurich. 



Cottage. 



13. The Cottage grounds and roads have been maintained in good 

 order during the year. The garden has been very much improved and a 

 constant supply of flowering plants, maintained during the year. A 

 number of new rose beds have been made and planted, and old beds 

 have been replanted. , 



Hill Roads. 



14. The year has been the wettest experienced for some consider- 

 able time, and the hill roads have proved more troublesome than ever. 

 In March, and again in October, November and December, the number 

 of bad landslips was very serious. These were repaired as quickly as 

 possible and at no time was the road closed to traffic. 



Rainfall. 



15. The total rainfall for the year was: Maxwell's 196.88 ins., 

 Cottage 206.80 ins. For both stations February with 9.59 ins., was the 

 driest month, and November with 75.13 ins. was the wettest. June, 

 September and October were also wet months, each showing a fall of 

 over 40 inches. 



Diseases and Pests. 



16. Fungoid diseases have been bad during the wetter parts 

 of the year. Potatoes and tomatoes have suffered badly. Spraying 

 with different fungicides was carried on but with little or no success. 

 The cabbage moth was very troblesome at times, but by using insecti- 

 cides the damage was soon repaired. 



Cattle Herd and Dairying. 



17. The cattle herd has been greatly improved by the introduction 

 of an English bull and three English cows. Thirteen calves were born 

 during the year, including two English heifer calves and one English 



