SUPPLEMENT
To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 17th January, 1885.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 24.
The following Annual Report from the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation
ent, for the year 1884, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th January, 1885.
11.
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary.
BOTANIC GARDEN, 7th January, 1885.
S---I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on this Department for 1884.
With the completion of the laying out and arrangement of the last remaining portion of land for garden extension (paragraph No. 4 of my Report for 1883), the Gardens have developed as far as seems possible in the locality in which they are situated. Any further extension may be desirable will have to be in the nature of branches at some distance from the central Therefore the available resources and energy have been chiefly directed during the year to improvement and completion of works which needed closer attention and more support. The ptionally sterile nature of the soil of this "barren rock," the exposed aspect of the Gardens and ce of water for artificial watering in the dry season, necessitate the expenditure of a great deal thought, time, and means than is usually experienced in establishments of this kind. Whenever rtunities can be got for a few important alterations I hope to be able to undertake them. Amongst should be the re-arrangement of the Fountain Terrace and adjacent grounds. The trees on the e have quite outgrown themselves for the positions which they occupy; most of them should be removed and a more suitable arrangement of planting substituted, but time and means prevent this.
carried out at present. If these means had been available I should have much wished to carry the work at once.
3. The Typhoon of September worked a good deal of mischief in the Gardens both by the force the wind and the deluge of rain with which it was accoinpanied. Limbs and branches from the r trees and shrubs were much broken. while smaller things were extensively up-rooted; amongst a large number of roses and Poinsettias were destroyed. Many of the remaining Poinsettias lal of their leaves and in consequence they have been unable to produce the large floral Bets which they otherwise would have had. A large number of Poinsettias were planted the year, and had it not been for the typhoon they would have made a brilliant display. Quite as much damage is done to plants and shrubs, both to those growing in pots and the A by the saturated state of the soil which results from the enormous fall of rain during the The plants which suffer the most from this cause are naturally those which come from countries iry climates, many of which plants in consequence of these excessive downpours it is impossible. de here. Poinsettias, Roses and Euphorbias specially suffered, a large number having been 1. Young plauts, both seedlings and from cuttings, of ordinary things, even those natives e. were lost in large numbers. To be able to successfully cope with the elements at such well as in ordinary heavy rains, many pot plants ought to be provided with substantial which they could be housed. Mat-sheds are usually blown away at the commencement of
4. Much more attention was given to Labelling the plants that it had been possible to bestow on for some time past. A large number of labels have been lettered and put down, so that at
on of each kind of tree or shrub has now its name affixed to it. The specimen pot being ticketed. With the completion of those, visitors will be able to ascertain the plants under enltivation. The destruction of the labels by weather, and the constaut by the workmen who take them up to facilitate operations, and who on finding when replet them that they have forgotten where the labels were taken from, put them back reers it an arduous thing to keep labels well supplied and in due order. The Chinese like native Indians, are quite unable to learn foreign names of plants, therefore they are robe any assistance in plant labelling. The labels used for open ground work are made e. lettered, and varnished. This I have found the most suitable of any kind yet tried Lange label is required.
itional piece of palm ground has been planted up with as many species of Palms as