15. As it is very desirable to possess in this Colony as complete as possible a collection of dried Chinese plants, I would take this opportunity of stating that well dried specimens of Chinese plants would always be very acceptable, and that they would be placed in the cabinets for public use, if any one having duplicate plants, or opportunities to collect plants, would kindly contribute them to this office.
16. In consequence of the low temperature and very dry atmosphere of our cool season, and of heavy falls of rain and frequent storms of the hot season, a great number of beautiful but somewhat tender plants, such as orchids, ferns, and other small growing plants, cannot be successfully grown, except a very limited number which are cultivated in the small glass house and pits which were put up several years ago. These structures, which were built for experimental purposes, have fulfilled so well the **purpose for which they were intended**, that the public generally, judging from expressions of their opinion continually being made, would be glad to see proper structures, worthy of the Colony, provided for the cultivation of a much larger collection of beautiful and interesting plants than can yet be accommodated.
AFFORESTATION.
17. The following is a tabulated return of planting operations during the year:-
Pinus sinensis, one year old,
"?, three year old, 3 to 5 ft. high, in situ,
Pinus Thunbergii, in situ,
Eucalypti,
Stillingia sebifera, (Tallow Tree) in situ,
Quercus salicina, & Q. Harlandi,
Japanese spp.,
Rhus succedanea, (Wax Tree) in situ,
Melia Azederach (Pride of India) in situ,
Bamboos,
Syncarpia laurifolia,
Castanea (Chestnut) in situ,
Albizzia Lebbek,
Cocos nucifera (Cocoa-nut),
Aleurites triloba (Candleberry Tree),
Ficus retusa ("Banian"),
Dammara robusta,
Aleurites sp.,
Miscellaneous,
97,695
3,776
11
649,587
22
7,000
4,347
6,000
2,115
91
2,240
1,800
1,110
654
344
300
319
196
180
71
61
26
93
777,914
18. The total number—777,914—of trees planted shows an increase of 566,899 over the previous year's work, i.e., the number has been nearly quadrupled. This year we expect to make an increase of about a quarter of a million over those planted last year, which will make a total for the season of 1882 of over a million additional trees for the Colony.
19. As will be seen from the above table, many kinds of trees beside the Chinese Pine have been planted. Some of them are put out for experiment—and I have great hopes that they will succeed,— but others are of indigenous trees which are certain to do well. A few of them, as the Japanese Wax Tree, the Tallow Tree and the Pride of India, will probably furnish valuable products, as they do in China and Japan, such as wax, vegetable tallow, and timber, besides the great addition of diversity of form and colour which they will make to the beauties of the future sylvan scenery.
20. Roadside planting outside of the town has been extended on both the Pokfoolum and Shaukiwan Roads. About a mile of the former, and a little less than a mile of the Shaukiwan Road, was planted. The trees used were bamboos and "banians." Many of the former were purchased from Chinese on the mainland. The "banians" were transplanted from the Botanic Gardens, Bowrington Plantation, and other places where they were no longer required. The dimensions of these trees ranged from 7 feet 2 inches down to about 1 foot 6 inches in circumference, at three feet from the ground; in height, after about half the length of the branches had been lopped, from 25 feet, downwards to 10 feet; and their ages were from about 25 years down to 10 years. A few of these trees were much damaged by the large larvae of a species of Longicornes. Many kinds of trees here during the weakened condition of their health, consequent on removal, are very subject to attacks from species of Longicornes. The eggs of the Longicornes are deposited in the bark, and when they hatch the larvae subsist by consuming the inner portions of the bark, thus causing much injury to, and sometimes the destruction of the tree.