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8. Iron and wire trellises five feet high and 284 feet long, on which creepers are trained, have been constructed between the plant-houses in the east garden and the higher ornamental grounds so as to screen from view the tops of the houses.
9. A large retaining wall, near the plant-houses, built when the gardens were formed upwards of 30 years ago, collapsed in a deluge of rain, and was afterwards rebuilt.
10. Near this place a bamboo hedge was planted across the southern corner of the garden in order to screen that portion of ground which has now to be used for purposes of utility rather than
ornament.
PLANT-HOUSES.
11. These have been all kept in good preservation, which, however, requires constant attention on account of the perishable nature of many of them.
12. The collections of plants in the houses are all in good order and health. The orchids are chiefly in Nos. 1 and 10; they have much improved and increased in number, chiefly by purchases when I was in England, by a handsome donation by Messrs. J. VEITCH & SONS, of London, and by exchanges with Mr. PECHÉ, of Burinah, and Mr. CUNDALL, of Manila. There has been a good show of bloom during the year. In Appendix A I give a list of those in cultivation and those kinds which have flowered during the year.
13. I also give in Appendix B a list of ferns in cultivation.
AVIARIES AND Deer Pens.
14. The animals and birds are very attractive to visitors and the collection might be increased to advantage, but the aviary in the east garden is dilapidated and urgently needs rebuilding in substantial and imperishable material, which I hope it may soon be possible to do.
DISTRIBUTION AND INTERCHANGE OF PLANTS.
15. This work has been carried on as usual.
Acclimatizing Association, Southern California. Barton, J.
Botanic Gardens, Bangalore.
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71
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Bourne, F. S. A.
Natal.
British Guiana.
Jamaica.
Ootacumund.
Penang.
Royal, Ceylon.
*
>
Kew.
Trinidad.
Saharunpur. Sydney.
Cundall, C. H., Manila.
The following were the principal recipients:
Acclimatizing Association, Southern California, Balbas, Venancio, Manila.
Barton, J.
Botanic Gardens, Adelaide.
The chief donors were:-
Dammann & Co., Italy. Henry, Dr., Mengtse. Humphreys, H.
Koebele, A., Honolulu.
Lawrence, Bt., Sir Trevor, England.
Loher, A., Manila.
Niedhardt. E.
Osmond, J. H., Manila.
Pettigrew, A. W.
Peché, G., Moulmein.
Roebelen, C.
Stevens, T. L.
Veitch, J. & Sons, Limited, London.
Walker, Frank, Tasmania.
*
Botanic Gardens, Tokio, Japan.
British Guiana.
19
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Bangalore. Baroda, India.
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19
19
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12
Grenada.
Mauritius.
Nagpur, India. Royal, Calcutta.
Cundall, C. H., Manila.
Hill, W., Queensland
Osmond, J. H., Manila.
Peché, G., Moulinein.
Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica.
Public Museum, Milwauke.
Roebelen, C.
Royal Naval Hospital.
Scharff and Shorting, California.
Siemssen, G., Foochow
Stephens M. J. D.
17
Kew.
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17
Trinidad. Sierra Leone.
11
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Walker, J. Pokfulam.
PLANT SALES.
16. The number of plants sold was 3,717, and they realised $880, a slight increase over the 1896 sales.