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The number of regular and casual visitors was noticeably larger, this was most probably due to the fact that a further number of the roads in the Colony are now open to motor traffic.
Government House Grounds.-The bamboo hedges on the north side of the grounds were repaired and extended.
Tennis lawns were given such attention as they required and the various grass banks were cleared of undergrowth re- gularly.
A small path was made in order to give access to the lower grounds from the north side of the house.
The interior of the house was decorated on June 3rd the occasion of the Birthday of His Majesty the King, other portions of the house were decorated as required, throughout the year.
Mountain Lodge Grounds.—A number of young specimens of Cupressus macrocarpa and Cunninghamia sinensis were plant- ed in various parts of the grounds, those in the higher and more exposed parts were damaged and in many cases killed by gales, those in the valley were doing well at the end of the year.
Amaryllis bulbs and Iris tectorum were planted alongside the stream and in sheltered spots in the valley.
On grassy slopes in various parts of the grounds seeds of Pinus Massoniana were sown in 2,250 sites.
Worn portions of the lawns were lifted and replaced with new turf, the whole turfed area was given a dressing of artificial manure.
Colonial Cemetery. The debris which was piled on various plots after the severe rainstorm of July 18th and 19th, 1926 was removed by the Public Works Department and the damage: areas were levelled and returfed, this has greatly improved the appearance of the lower portion of the cemetery.
A large number of the indigenous trees on the older terraces were removed in order to avoid damage to graves and head- stones.
The Eyrie Grounds.-A number of Cupressus macrocarpa, Pinus Massoniana and Hibiscus Lambertianus were planted on level areas.
The lawns were given heavy dressings of soil and vegetable ash and have much improved in consequence.
Blake Garden, West End Park, King's Park, Kowloon, Civil Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, Senior Officers' Quarters, Leighton Hill, Indian School, Sukunpo, Volunteer Headquarters, Helena May Institute, Statue Square, Victoria Hospital, Senior Officers' Quarters, Homestead, Government Pavilions and Villas, Royal Observatory and Kowloon Magistracy. The grounds of all the places mentioned were kept in order during the year, undesirable undergrowth was removed, storm damaged trees and shrubs were removed and replaced and grass lawns, banks, trees, shrubs and other plants were given such attention as they required.
HERBARIUM AND LIBRARY.
The interior of the building was treated by the Government Analyst on June 16th and 17th with Hydrocyanie gas in order to destroy the insects which cause so much destruction among the books and plant specimens, up to the end of the year no live insect was found in any part of the building.
Plant specimens of botanical interest and economie value were identified for local collectors and institutions in the Colony and elsewhere.
FORESTRY.
Formation of Pine Tree Plantations.—Increased areas were dealt with during the year, and the number of in situ sowings of seed of Pinus Massoniana amounted to 197,476 as against 70,500 in 1926. Not less than 5 seeds were sown in each site in order to allow for failure and damage by small animals and birds; the total weight of seed used in this method of re- afforestation was 115 pounds.
The areas dealt with were West Bay peninsula, Mount Collinson, Stanley Mound Catchwater, Tai Wo Po, Shek Li Pui reservoir area, Kowloon Tsai, hills adjoining Kowloon Bay, Castle Peak near the Police Station, Taipo Forestry Reserve and bare hills in the Peak District.
Other and more grassy areas where germination of seeds without preparation of sites may be expected were sown by the broadcast method, the total weight of seeds of Pinus Massoniana used in this work was 995 pounds; trials are now being made with Leucaena glauca and 129 pounds of seeds of this tree were used, experimental sowings were made with small lots of Pinus insularis, Cunninghamia sinensis, Acacia pennate and Acacia confusa.
Broad-leaved Trees Planted. Small groups of the following trees were planted in the young Pine plantations and the more sheltered areas on the Island and in the New Territories, the major portion of such work being carried out in Taipo Forestry
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