683
No. 1902
32
HONGKONG.
REPORT ON THE BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT
FOR THE YEAR 1901.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 18th April, 1902.
SIR-For the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government I have the honour to forward the Annual Report on this Department for the past year, 1901.
STAFF.
2. The Superintendent was absent on leave from the end of March, 1900, until the end of September, 1901; the Assistant Superintendent, who officiated during his absence, was actively employed, and with the effective work of the clerks and the leading men in the different departments, he has maintained the ordinary routine work generally in satisfactory order.
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3. Towards the end of the year the Head, Forester, SUEN TUNG, resigned in order, as he alleged, go into business, and YUNG CHING was appointed in his place. The latter enters with an excellent character, and although he lacks knowledge of forestry work, he promises soon to acquire what is needed.
4. The Foreman Forester also resigned, and he was replaced by WONG SING PO, who was educated in the Queen's College and promises to become a useful man.
5. During the previous year there was the unprecedented number of 45 changes in the out-door staff and notwithstanding the general increase of wages which commenced on January 1st, there were 37 changes again last year, 15 of which occurred in the 3rd quarter; in the 4th quarter the numbers decreased to 11, and during the 1st quarter of this year there has been a further fall to 6 only, so there is some promise now of improvement which, I hope, with careful management, may be maintained.
6. Last year was a record one for absences on account of alleged sickness, 968 days having been registered.
BOTANIC GARDENS.
7. Plant-houses.--In my Report for 1900 I mentioned that No. 1 Plant-house-in the Old Garden-was being re-built on an enlarged and improved plan; this consisted principally of the sub- stitution of tables supported partly by angle iron instead of brick walls, which could never be kept clean on account of mossy growth on them, of increased width of tables and of a roof at a greater height, bearing split bamboos with the internodes cut out and the concave sides placed uppermost, which carries off about half or more of the rainfall; the bamboos are spaced at about half their width which allows just sufficient light to penetrate for successful plant growth. These changes have resulted in a very great improvement in the condition of the ferns which the house contains.
8. Immediately after my return in September, No. 2 house was razed and its re-construction commenced, followed by No. 3 in the same manner, in order to complete the plan which was designed when No. 1 house was commenced, but the execution of which was interrupted by my absence when on leave.
9. Nos. 1 and 3 houses are each about 52 feet long by 26 feet wide, and No. 2, which stands transversely between Nos. 1 and 3, is 37 feet long by 28 feet wide. No. 1 is filled with ferns and kindred plants and Nos. 2 and 3 will be used for the accommodation of orchids and ferns as the old houses were.
10. The enlargement of the three houses will give 400 square feet of additional table space for plants.
11. At the north and south of this range rockeries have been constructed and the entrance at the south end instead of being by way of a flight of steps is arranged to come in level from a side-walk.
12. Just before the end of the year extensive repairs were commenced to the plant-houses-Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8—in the nursery and the usual annual re-painting was done to these houses and gates, railings &c., in different parts of the Garden.
50-7.7.02.