330
67. The Annual Reports of this Department are regularly sent in exchange to all our corres- pondents.
68. The library contains, besides the various reports and papers, 270 volumes.
69. In Appendix No. 1 I record a few notes made during a visit to San Ui in the delta of the Canton river on the Palm which is cultivated extensively by the Chinese for the production of leaves for making fans, rain coats for coolies, and for use as thatch, for which it is so extensively employed in South China.
FORESTRY.
70. The area of ground operated on in artificial reproduction was smaller than in some previous years. It was necessary to reduce the operations of 1886 for two reasons, one of which was in conse- quence of the weakening of the controlling staff, and the other was to meet the circumstances of the reduced vote for 1887 which was contemplated in 1885. By providing a small balance from the vote for 1886 I was enabled to devote it to the operations which could be carried out in that year as part of the following season's planting, thus enabling us to accomplish more work during the present year when the staff is again complete and competent to resume the full complement of work.
71. The number of trees planted was nearly up to the average. It was in the rearing of trees in situ that the diminution of area operated on was effected. This operation was entirely suspended. With the exception of a few thousands of trees planted in the neighbourhood of Deep-water Bay the planting was successfully accomplished. The few which were not successful suffered for want of water in a spell of dry weather which succeeded the planting of them.
72. The total number of trees planted was 299,911, of these 293,000 were China Pines, 4,500 Camphor trees, and 1,000 Pride of India trees. The remainder consisted of miscellaneous trees to the number of about 1,200.
73. CAMPHOR TREE.-A large number of trees of this species were planted in 1885, and they appear in fairly good condition. It is probable that this tree will be successful in Hongkong, but it is too early to yet pronounce positively one way or another on the subject. If the conditions do prove suitable for the tree, it will be a valuable acquisition, for besides affording pleasant variety to the sylvan effects of the landscapes, the timber may in time be of value.
74. The early made plantations of China Pines at high altitudes, and in wind-swept patches do not, as I anticipated, succeed very well. However to put the theory to the test a sufficient number of trees were planted in exposed places and at high elevations for experiment. Now the selection of lands for planting is made at comparatively low altitudes.
75. PINUS MASSONIANA. In 1882 I obtained from Japan seeds of this tree which is indigenous to that country, and of a sturdy habit, with which to experiment for cultivation above the height at which the China Pine did well. The seeds were sown in situ at an altitude of from 1,000 to 1,400 feet. The growth of the tree is slower than that of the China Pine, but the trees are very healthy and of robust habit, and they seem well adapted for bearing the adverse conditions for general tree growth which prevail towards the tops of the hills.
76. QUERCUS FISSA.-At the same altitude as the Japanese Pine, young trees of this Hongkong Oak were planted. Some of them, where a little sheltered, have grown very well, and they now measure as much as 9 feet in height and the same in diameter.
·
77. TRISTANEA CONFERTA.-A member of the myrtle family, and native of North Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. It grows into a large tree and the timber is well spoken of in Australia. The rapid growth of a solitary tree of this which had been introduced from one of the Botanic Gardens of Australia, and planted in our Botanic Garden led me to send to Australia for a supply of seeds. From these 800 trees were raised in 1883 and planted out three years ago. The majority were planted on the north side of the island at about 300 feet altitude, and a number of them at a similar height on the south side of the dividing ridge. All have made remarkable progress, the height of the trees now being as much in many instances as 20 feet. The growth and vigour is greater than that of any tree yet tried, if we except the Gum trees, and of these only a few kinds equal the Tristanea.
78. Gum Trees.—The Eucalyptus trees continue to do well. Of those planted near the Military Sanitarium two years ago a few species have become splendid vigorous trees. These are on the top of a ridge where the soil is naturally loose and deep. At the same time as these trees were planted, a quantity of the same species were planted at not more than 100 to 200 feet above sea-level, those near the Sanitarium are at about 800 feet. Of twelve kinds three succeeded better at the low level than corresponding plants of the same species at the higher level, five succeeded better at the higher level, while four succeeded equally at both places. The result of the experiment is therefore slightly in favour of the higher altitude for Eucalyptus cultivation.