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Reserve, Tristania conferta, Aleurites Fordii, Acacia confusa, Cunninghamia sinensis, Pithecolobium Saman, Cinnamomum Camphora, Ginkgo biloba, Celtis sinensis and Glyptostrobus heterophyllus.
The planting of roadside trees for shade and decorative purposes was maintained and extended during the year, large number of trees were killed or damaged by the gale of August 20th and could not be replaced before the end of the year; the force of the gale did most damage between Castle Peak and Sheung Shui where many fine specimens of Melaleuca Leucaden- dron were destroyed.
Trees Felled.-Increased motor traffic necessitated the removal of a number of large shade trees from the sides of the motor roads.
Other felling was carried out in connection with the develop- ment of building sites, the formation of dairy farms and the leasing of the necessary grass growing areas adjoining the farms, extensions of cemeteries and work in connection with reservoir catchment areas.
Miscellaneous Planting.-Planting of shade and flowering trees, shrubs and creepers was carried on in large numbers of otherwise unused small open spaces in all parts of the Colony,
Undergrowth Clearing-Anti-malarial clearing has now been extended to Taipo district where systematic removal of under- growth is carried out in the vicinity of houses and public build- ings, twice annually.
During the year the total areas cleared in connection with anti-malarial measures totalled 3,905,835 square feet, for other purposes such as surveys, training of nullahs and other public. improvements the areas cleared amounted to 2,642,805 square feet.
Insect Pests.--Pine Tree Caterpillars (Eutricha punctata) appeared in the Pine plantations in many parts of the Colony in March and were in evidence at the end of the year; serious damage was done to Pine trees during the month of June. Collection and burying of the caterpillars was commenced when there was no longer any hope of weather condition destroying the pest, the total amount collected and destroyed in all parts of the Colony was 14,637 pounds.
Protection from fire. -A total of 30 hill and plantation fires occurred during the year, no serious damage was done to any Government plantation but large numbers of wild trees on the slopes of Tai Mo Shan were destroyed. Little or no assistance in dealing with fires was given by village people living within short distances of the burnt areas; most of the fires appeared to be due to careless dropping of lighted tobacco or matches.
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The wet days preceding the Tsing Ming and Chung Yeung festivals prevented the usual number of fires which break out in vicinity of isolated graves and cemeteries.
Fire barriers in plantations, in the vicinity of cemeteries and graves were cleared, the major portion of the work being completed before the end of the year.
A new fire barrier was made at West Bay in order to protect the young plantations which have been established there.
Forest Guards Service.-The total number of persons arrest- eu and charged with forestry offences during the year was 355, of these 300 were fined or imprisoned, 26 cautioned, 10 had their bail estreated, 10 were discharged, 6 bound over in per- sonal bonds of $100 each and charges against 8 were withdrawn.
Full particulars of these cases are given in Tables I & II.
Fifteen persons who were convicted of a second and in some cases of a third or fourth forestry offence were banished. A number of the persons so dealt with lived entirely on the proceeds of timber and other thefts and their absence from the Colony has undoubtedly lessened the destruction of mature timber in the older plantations.
Chiefly as a result of penalties inflicted and warnings given in District Officers' Courts the amount of illicit felling of the larger indigenous trees in outlying districts was much less than during the past five years.
Efforts are still being made to stop the cutting of New Year Flower (Enkianthus quinqueflorus) and notices are now posted in all parts of the Colony for some weeks prior to Chinese New Year warning the villagers against destroying this flowering shrub; this and the fact that a plentiful supply is now brought down from Canton has had the effect of lessening the more serious wholesale cuttings but thefts of small quantities in the Wanchai Gap and Tytam districts were again numerous.
A Forest Guard was seriously assaulted by villagers from Chung Pak Long while on duty in the Pine plantations at Fan Ling the offenders were subsequently arrested and sentenced to terms of imprisonment.
Forestry Service Paths.-One new path leading from Stanley Gap to West Bay was made, all other paths were given such attention as they required.
Forestry Licences, New Territories.-Fees collected during the year amounted to $4,099.70 as against $4,888.74 in 1926.
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