11. Sheds with screens of canvas on rollers have been put up for the better cultivation of Ferns and some other plants which cannot be well grown unless they are protected from the powerful sun-rays and heavy rains. The plants grown in these structures have shown a marked improvement for the extra care bestowed upon them. These sheds and the orchid-house are, I hope, the fore-runner of more ornamental and accessible structures which might, with advantage, be added to our acknowledged beautiful, but small gardens.
12. The Aviaries and Orchid-house which were in a very dilapidated state have been repaired and put in a fairly effective condition. The Monkey-house has not been repaired, although it is very much decayed. The house is, I believe, badly placed for the health of the animals; scarcely any sun can ever enter the house, and it is exposed to all the cold weather which we get from the northerly winds. I would strongly recommend the abandonment of the place altogether and the keeping of monkeys, unless a proper house could be provided for them. The structure is of wood, and ever since it was erected it has been constant trouble and expense to keep the animals in the house, as they are continually eating away and pulling down the boards of which the house is constructed.
13. The following plants flowered for the first time in these gardens:-
Aristolochia longifolia. Brassaia actinophylla. Cypripedium Stonei. Dendrobium Paxtonii.
Echeveria metallica.
Frencia pendula.
Lettsomia Chalmersii.
Mezoneurum brachycarpum.
Monstera deliciosa. Peperomia arifolia,
marmorata.
Rhododendron Champion's. Seaforthia elegans.
Tecoma australis.
14. During the year under notice the following plants, hitherto unrecorded as being indigenous to Hongkong, have been discovered in the Island:-
Asplenium lumulatum, Sonerila tenera, and Otanthera Fordii, Hance, novum species.
15. Dr. KING, Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, kindly presented for the library a copy of Griffith's Palms of India.
16. As the gardens are becoming crowded, the interchange of plants and seeds has not been conducted with quite so much vigour as in former years when there was more necessity for the importation of plants to stock the newly formed portions of the garden. The number of contributors was 32, from whom 677 plants and 145 packets and parcels of seeds, and 8 birds and animals were received. 1,834 plants and 190 packets and parcels of seeds were supplied from the garden to 41 recipients.
17. The following is the list of Contributors:
Alderton, Captain; Japanese plants. Brand, E; Geraniums.
Botanic Garden, Brisbane; six Wardian cases of ornamental and useful plants and seeds of Eucalypti, &c. Bowen; case of Araucarias, &c. Jamaica; seeds.
Melbourne; seeds of Australian trees and shrubs.
Singapore; plants Ataccia cristata. Buittenzorg, Java; Ward's case of Cinchonas.
Benzely, Mrs., Swatow; Chinese plants. Bush, L. L.; Pheasants.
Crawford, D. R.; Geraniums and seeds.
Crocker, W. M., Sarawak; valuable orchids.
Hance, Dr. H. F., Whampoa; seeds. Hange and Schmidt, Erfurt; Cacti. Hungerford, Dr.; orchids.
Hyde, H. B., New York; American plants. Lowcock, H.; Wallaby and Peacock. Mesny, Colonel, Herbarium specimens from Sze-chuen.
Pasedag, C. J., Amoy; ornamental plants. Price, Hon. J. M.; seeds from Cochin China. Queensland Accln. Society; seeds of Australian trees.
Rozario, M. C. de; Peacock.
Romano, A. G.; plants.
Royal Gardens, Kew; seeds of palms, &c. Smith, R.; Lizard.
Silva, J. M.; plants.
Creswell, C. T., Sydney; seeds of Australian timber trees. Sampson, T., Canton; Acer Formosana.
Coote, H. E., Vice Admiral; Ferns from Perak. Tennant, H. P., Foochow; Bamboos.
Gerlach, Dr.; Chinese plants and Herbarium specimens. Godsil, Captain; Civet cat.
Taylor, C. S.; Ferns and ornamental plants. Thomsett, Captain; Pelargoniums. Tsan Chun; Water Hen.
Watters, T., Ichang; Persea Nanmu. Wheathy, Mrs., Ningpo; Pai-cha tree.