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Adoption of European methods by Chinese-Advice was sought on several occasions by Hongkong merchants as to the supply of chemical fertilizers, etc., to farmers in the interior. European gardening tools are also said to be in request.
Sisal Hemp Continues to do well. It is on poor stony ground and might, if sucessful, provide a valuable new industry for the New Territory farmers and at the same time utilize ground that is now of little value.
Cotton.-Arrangements were made for commencing experiments on Cotton- growing at the commencement of the rains. Great interest attaches to these trials and every effort will be made to render them a success. The first crops will not be gathered until next Autumn when the result will be calculated and fully reported.
Agricultural Census.-In order to forestall the demand for information upon the agricultural industries of the New Territory, which is sure to occur as measures are adopted to improve and augment them, officers of the Department have been employed, as often as other duties allowed, in taking an agricultural census of the various districts. The information is entered on special printed forms one for each village. About 500 of these are now filed in the Office. The aggregates for the districts now completed are tabulated in Appendix F.
REVENUE.
Particulars of the Revenue collected by the Department during the year are given in Appendix G.
The Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY.
I have, &c.,
S. T. DUNN,
Superintendent,
BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT.
APPENDIX A.
LAND UNDER COMPLETE OR PARTIAL MANAGEMENT
OF BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTION DEPARTMENT.
1. Botanic Gardens.
2. Blake Garden.
3. Peak Garden, (site).
4. King's Park, Kowloon.
5. West End Park,
6. Government House Grounds.
7. Mountain Lodge Grounds.
8. Government Offices Grounds.
9. Colonial Cemetery.
10. Sookunpo Government Nursery.
11. Kang Hau Forest Nursery.
12. Sookunpo Bamboo Nursery.
13. North Point Tree Nursery.
14. Kowloon Nursery.
15. Albany Nursery.
16. Rockery in Garden Road.
17. Do. (upper) in Albert Road.
18.
Do. (lower) - do.
19.
Do. (upper) in Peak Road.
20. Do. (lower) do..
21.
Do. (upper) at St. Joseph's Church.
22. Do. (lower)
do:
Do.in Glenealy Road, below Robinson Road.
23.
24.
Do.
do.
below first bend.
25.
Do.
do..
below second bend.
26.
Do.
do.
below third and.
27. Do.
do.
below Cathedral.
28.
Do.
do.
lower part, W.
29.
Do.
do.
do., E.