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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
centres, virtually completing the reorganization which the new programme entailed. A manual of instructions for forestry staff was prepared with the aim of coordinating work throughout the districts; species trials continued; and plans were drawn up for establishing 1,000 acres of new plantations in 1956, including for the first time an area on Lantao Island. At the same time, efforts were made to attract villagers to the new scheme of assistance for the planting of village forestry lots, and to extend amenity planting throughout the New Territories..
Tai Lung Nursery-a new 23-acre forest nursery near Fanling, the formation of which began in July 1954, was practically completed by the end of 1955. This nursery has been laid out with an integrated system of internal roads, piped water supply, nursery buildings, stores, offices and staff quarters, for the economical production of 1,000,000 plants annually. Already well stocked, it will come into full production in 1956.
Planting work is best carried out during the cooler wet weather of spring and early summer. 1955 was not a favour- able year, due to the early drought, and the bulk of the planting had to be delayed until the heavy rains and hot weather of June and July. Frequent replanting was necessary, and because of unfavourable weather and limited supplies of planting material, it was not possible to reach the target of 850 acres of new plantations for 1955. Just over 700 acres were planted, and in some cases repeatedly replanted, giving however a fair measure of success in spite of adverse conditions. Planting continued in the catchment areas of the Jubilee, Tai Lam Chung and Kowloon Reservoirs, at Taipo Kau Forest Reserve, and also in a new area, to be known as Pat Heung Forest Reserve, which extends from Sek Kong westward to join the Tai Lam Chung catchment area, to which it will be linked by catchwater.
The scheme of assistance to village forestry was revised in 1954 to make it more attractive to villagers. The Forestry Division now offers full assistance to villagers to establish on their lots a small trial area of 5-10 acres, showing the advantages of correct forestry techniques and the most suitable tree species. The response has been good, and trial plantations of this kind were established on a number of lots