322
Report, Destruction of Cocoa-nut Palms by Beetles, H. N. Ridley, Singapore, 1889. Department of Agriculture, Cape Town,
""
11
1889-90.
Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica,
1889.
93
Queensland Acclimatisation Society, 1890.
Report, Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, 1889.
Saharanpur, 1890.
33
Ceylon, 1889.. Calcutta, 1889-
90.
Rhododendrons du Thibet, M. Franchet. Pre-
sented by Royal Gardens, Kew.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUNDS.
29. Very much time has been devoted to the improvement of these grounds, which were in great need of improvement, but which funds hitherto did not provide for. As large a portion of the vote as could be spared was appropriated for the work. The soil in these grounds being so unfit for garden purposes was in several places removed, and replaced to a depth of about three feet with better material, and a large number of new plants and shrubs were afterwards planted. The grass lawns also which had become very thin and worn were relaid to a great extent.
30. The construction of the new ball-room necessitated the destruction of the finest true banian tree Ficus indica, in fact the only one of any size, which existed in the Colony, and much work in- removing shrubs, turf, and soil was imposed on us at a much shorter notice than was convenient.
FORESTRY.
31. The lack of efficient clerical assistance necessitated too much of the routine work of the office being done by myself and thus prevented adequate supervision being exercised over out-door works. Operations which had already been begun when the office staff was rendered incomplete it was imper- ative to finish even with diminished supervision. What I had not time for had to be deputed to the Chinese head forester. Under these circumstances the suspension of works which would permit of it was unavoidable. The chief amongst other things which for this cause I had to relinquish was the inspection and selection of lands for rearing trees in situ-the method of rearing trees which constitutes two-thirds of the whole number reared and planted-so that the present year, when it is reported on, will show about 400,000 trees less planted than would have been under other circumstances. For the same reason the examination and inspection of the work of the Forest Guards, and the condition of older plantations was not nearly so complete as I could have desired it to be.
32. The portions of the island on which planted trees have attained to sufficient dimensions to catch the eye from adjacent or distant roads on which the public travel have effected a most marked and beautiful effect compared with the once barren and naked appearance of the hills. Only the older residents who are of an observant nature can fully appreciate the great change which has been effected, but even those who are new to the Colony cannot fail to form a most favourable opinion of the enhanced beauties of scenery when they imagine what the treeless aspect of the hills was before re-afforestation was taken in hand.
33. Besides the trees near promenades close to the town a walk of 3 miles from West Point out to Pok-fu-lam is sufficient to demonstrate to the most casual observer the very successful result of tree planting. All the trees to be seen from that road have been planted within the last 15 years, and most of them within 10 years. This is one instance out of numberless others which will illustrate the results of planting. Of course in the first days of planting a good deal of work had to be done experimentally, and for want of trained men work was naturally not so well done as could have been wished. Thus trees planted at altitudes above a zone varying, owing to exposure to wind, &c., from 700 feet to 900 feet altitude, do not encourage us to exceed those limits of elevation, while other patches show a lack of vigour owing to shallowness of soil which may be only a foot deep over solid granite. On the whole, however, where the above limits of altitude have not been exceeded the plan- tations have made very satisfactory progress, and in especially favoured localities the growth of the trees has been every thing which could be expected or desired in any place. As regards the average sizes of individual trees of which plantations are composed I may say that trees planted 18 years ago, near the Peak Road, are now 30 feet high, and 43 inches in circumference at 2 feet from the ground; trees planted 10 years ago at Causeway Bay are 23 feet high, and 24 inches in circumference, and trees planted 10 years ago near the Pok-fu-lam Road are 22 feet high, and 20 inches in circumference. The first-named plantation has been thinned twice and the two latter once each, the trees in these places now standing, without gaps, at distances of about 12 feet apart.
34. The plantations already made are composed of chiefly the common pine, Pinus sinensis, a tree which it was found to be the best kind to commence the work of afforestation with. In the first place, it is better suited to the various conditions under which it had to grow here than other trees yet tried, and its management being simpler than that of many other trees rendered it possible to deal with it in vast numbers--about half a million trees being added yearly-with a staff that, in the early days, consisted of ordinary raw coolies only. Even now the same may be said of the staff of foresters with the exception of one man who has been trained to be a foreman. Under these circumstances and with the poor material to work with, only the simpler methods of forestry could be undertaken, but now that large areas available or suitable for elementary planting have become scarce, it might be worth while to further develop forestry work, which however could only be done successfully by the improvement of the controlling staff which should possess an adequate amount of technical knowledge