RAINFALL,
305
The rainfall as registered in the Gardens amounted to 80-61 inches, as compared with 83:91 inches in 1899. The daily statistics are given in Appendix A.
VISITORS.
During the year, amongst others, the following gentlemen interested in Botany, Horticulture, &c., have visited the Gardens:
Mr. PETER BARR of the well-known firm of Messrs. BARR & SON, Bulb and Seed Merchants, London.
Mr. D. F. FAIRCHILD of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, who was here making investiga- tions in regard to economic plants, natives of China, likely to succeed in different parts of the United States.
Mr. B. HAYATA, a student of the Imperial University, Tokyo, who came for the purpose of study in the Gardens.
Mons. SAUVALE, an official of the new French Colony of Kwong Chau-wan, who came up to make enquiries as to the most suitable trees for planting at that place, and also as to what economic plants would be likely to succeed there.
Mr. E. M. WILCOX, Travelling Fellow in Economic Botany of Harvard University.
Mr. E. H. WILSON of Messrs. J. VerTCH & SONS, the eminent firm of Nurserymen, London.
MOUNTAIN LODGE GARDEN.
The old summer residence of H. E. the Governor, "Mountain Lodge," having been demolished, and another site chosen for the new structure, considerable alterations in the gardens there have be- come necessary. Beyond turfing the new banks, very little could be done during 1900, but it is hoped that the new building will be sufficiently advanced before the end of 1901 to allow of the gar- dens being completed.
in 1901.
PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND, KOWLOON.
A piece of land immediately to the north of Austin Road, and east of Garden Lots 21 and 48, comprising about 11 acres, was placed under this Department by C.S.O., for converting into a public recreation ground, and a vote of $2,000 has been placed in the Estimates to commence the work After the land had been placed under this Department, the Kowloon Bowling Club made an application for a piece of ground (30,000 square feet) on the site of the proposed recreation ground, and obtained a lease from the Government for the same. The original plans, therefore, of Mr. FORD, for draining and laying out the ground will have to be abandoned, and others substituted.
HERBARIUM AND LIBRARY.
Owing to the absence on leave of the Superintendent, no time could be devoted to herbarium work. My time was fully occupied in carrying on the practical work of the Department.
Annual Reports, Bulletins, &c. have been received from the following establishments, to the chiefs of whom our thanks are due:-
British Guiana, Calcutta, Ceylon, Durban, Haarlem, Jamaica, Kolonial Museum Haarlem, Milwaukee, Mysore, Lagos, New South Wales, Saharanpur, Straits Settle- ments, Sydney, Trinidad, Agricultural Departments of Cape of Good Hope, England, United States of America, Western Australia, University of California, Tokyo, Zanzibar, Forest Administration in Ajmer Merwara, Assam, Baluchistan, Bengal, Bombay, Burma, Central Province, Coorg, Hyderabad, Madras, North-West Provinces and Oudh, Pun- jab, and Imperial Department of Agriculture, West Indies.
The following works have been added to the library :-
Purchased:-
Flora Capensis, Vol. VII., Part III.
Gardeners' Chronicle.
Journal of Botany.
Botanical Magazine.
Presented:
Forestry in British India, by Inspector General of Forests to the Government of India. Hand-list of Tender Dicotyledons cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew, 1899.
Hooker's Icones Plantarum, by Royal Gardens, Kew.
Kew Bulletin,
do.,
do.
Icones Flora Japonica, Vol. I., Part I., from the Imperial University, Tokyo. Tentamen Flora Lutchuensis, from the Botanical Institute, Tokyo. Natal Plants, Vol. 2, Part 2, and Vol. 3, Part 1.