170
FORESTRY.
The return to regularity in the amount of the Annual Forestry vote has enabled the operations to be returned to something like what they were before 1886. The number of trees planted and reared for the past year was nearly as large as in 1884. The season on account of the very favourable rain- fall was an excellent one for planting and the results were exceedingly satisfactory. Planting com- menced on November 25th, 1887 and was completed on July 14th, 1888, but the heaviest portion of the work was finished by April 26th. The operations were conducted chiefly in the following locali- ties:-
Western end of the City,
Mt. Davis.
Pokfulam.
Military Sanitarium.
Mt. Kellet.
Mt. Parker.
Quarry Bay. Wongneichung. Deep Water Bay. Tytam. Chai Wan. Kowloon.
The following are the kinds and numbers of trees planted, reared in situ, and reared from broad- cast sowing.
Pinus sinensis,
•
in situ
})
"
broadcast
Tristanea conferta,
Camphor, Bamboos,
Ficus repens, Miscellaneous,
.379,621
..239,997
50,000
4,297
7,658
320
400
32
682,325
Broadcast sowing was repeated on a large area on the hills near Chaiwan; the seeds germinated well and the seedlings are now in a healthy and promising condition. Where the ground is suitable for this work this method of rearing trees is apparently the most economical and satisfactory one which can be adopted.
Tristanea Conferta.
Five years ago 800 trees of this species were planted, these thrived so well that, as I reported last year, a larger number was being reared. From this sowing we obtained upwards of 4,000 which were planted; they succeeded perfectly. Seeds were again collected from our own trees-which made us independent of foreign supplies-and sown, and 20,000 seedlings were prepared for planting during the current year.
Experiments.
Between 20 and 30 newly introduced species of trees were planted for experimental purposes, but it is too early to pronounce an opinion on their suitability for this soil and climate.
Thinning Plantations.
A considerable area of the older plantations has been thinned, and cleared of brushwood which was becoming undesirably abundant. The work was chiefly performed, under supervision, by the purchasers of the material which was thinned and cleared. The trees and brushwood which were sold realised $419.25 clear profit.
Grass Fires.
There has again been remarkable exemption from damage to trees by grass fires. The fire barriers have been maintained and some extensions made. A considerable number of fires began, but they were arrested or extinguished in all cases at an early stage of their existence either by the fire barriers, police, or our own staff, or by all resources combined.
The proposal which I made and to which His Excellency the Governor and the Captain Super- intendent of Police assented, that the out police stations should be provided with means for extinguishing grass fires when they occur in districts near to the stations, has worked most satisfactorily and wish to here express my appreciation of the useful services which the Officers and men under them at the out stations have cheerfully rendered in many instances. Their prompt actions in telegraphing to me the existence of fires, and their own exertions in extinguishing them, have saved large numbers of trees from destruction.
* A creeper planted to cover bare walls.