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(In 1938 the grounds at Lai Chi Kok jail were obtained as an additional nursery for roadside tree seedlings.) The Little Hong Kong nursery for roadside trees is maintained so also is that at Kowloon Tong. The forest reserve' in the Tai Po Kau valley is used in part for the cultivation of tree seedlings as is also in part the 'experimental area' at Fanling.
6.
Agricultural Research.
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An experimental area' was started at Fanling more than 18 years ago. This has been used in recent years for the cultivation of vegetables for the Governor, presumably, and for the cultivation of tree seedlings for roadside planting but no research has been attempted there for many years,
if ever. True, two small fields of rice are grown each year and there are, or were, a score or so of diseased citrus trees and a few figs but research, no. Since the inauguration of the N. T. Agricultural Show, held annually at the turn of the year, the Department has staged an exhibition of vegetables grown at Fanling. Nothing of significance other than this has been done .to encourage or improve the cultivation of vegetables or crops by the Chinese in the Territories. No person qualified in agriculture was on the Staff of the Department.
7.
Agricultural Research station.
The present Superintendent had before Government in the two years preceding the war a scheme for the establishment and staffing of an Agricultural Research Station. This scheme has not been implemented owing to hostilities.
8.
9.
Roadside trees.
These have been maintained.
Afforestation.
The Tai Po Kau Forest Reserve was planted so that the trees would be available in time of emergency'. Part of this reserve and a considerable area of the pine woods on the slopes near Fanling were cut prior to the war when the firewood situation in Hong Kong was acute and a war reserve was being established. Afforestation has been carried out in different parts of the Colony notably near Sha Tin reservoir and on Hong Kong island. Much of this woodland has been cut since December, 1941. With the exception of two (possibly more) small plantations of Eucalyptus the Department has confined its sowings to the seeds of the South China pine, Pinus Massoniana. No transplanting of pines from seedling nurseries has ever been tried to my knowledge. The two methods have been broadcast sowing - often so thickly that the seedlings have looked like moss and the sowing of half a dozen seeds on the top of a pit, where the earth had previously been excavated and replaced to the extent of 1 cubic foot.
*
These criticisms which I have made of the B. & F. Department's limitations, I do not wish to be interpreted as criticisms of the activities of the present. Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. Neither of these two men appointed in 1938 and 1937 respectively - has been long enough in office to overcome the inertia of the previous decade and a half. The termination of the war provides a wonderful opportunity for the reorganization of this-department along more modern and progress- ive lines. I offer the following outline of a scheme for consideration.
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