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B.-Formation of Pine Tree Plantations.-An area of about 300 acres in the Harbour Belt was sown (in sites) to the eastward of the plantations formed in 1908, and the failures in last year's plantations in this neighbourhood, in the catchment areas of the Kowloon and Tytam Reservoirs and in the felled areas of Mt. Kellet and Aberdeen were made good. Fifty pounds of pine seeds were sown broadcast in the Shing Mun Valley. In all 389,290 pits were sown or planted at a cost of $3,281.
C.-Care of Trees in Plantations.-Large quantities of under-growth were given to the villagers in Hongkong and Kowloon in return for work done by them for the Department. The work done by the villagers was of various kinds, such as cleaning fire barriers, digging pits for sowing seeds, path making and cord making. In all 27,216 loads, of about 80 catties each, were disposed of in this way, and taking the value of a load at 6 cents, (the villagers had to cut it themselves under the supervision of Foresters), it was a saving to the Government of about $1,700 in cash. The undergrowth was taken out of the following plantations:-Victoria (1), Wongneichung (2), Shaukiwan (3), Little Hongkong (5), Aberdeen (6), Pokfulam (7), Mongkok (8), Taipo Road (9) and Kowloon Reservoir (10). In the two latter blocks pine tree branches were given as no undergrowth was available. The villages which participated in this work were Aberdeen, Aplichau, Little Hongkong, Mongkok, Pokfulam, Shaukiwan, Tai Hang and Wongueichung. This method of paying for work cannot be carried on indefinitely as the undergrowth in the plantations is the result of many years' growth and protection, and its removal will also lower the price of future tenders for tree felling.
D.-Protection from Fire.---Old fire barriers were cleaned to the extent of 118,905 feet at a cost of 10,116 loads of brushwood and $52.80 in cash. New barriers, 17,914 feet, were made at Tytam and in the Harbour Belt at a cost of 644 loads of brushwood and $92.61 in cash. Fifty-seven fires were reported, the largest occurring in 6B where 56 acres were burnt.
E.-Forest Guards' Service.--There were more reports of pine tree and brushwood stealing during the year and more convictions than in the previous year. Notwithstanding the amount of brushwood given to the various villagers for work done, in every case, with the exception of Aberdeen and Wongaeichung, the reports of fuel stealing have nearly doubled, and for Pokfulam they have more than trebled. See Tables II and III.
During the year an Ordinance was passed amending the Malicious Damage Ordinance of 1865. This will enable the Department to deal with the destruction of trees near villages, when the damage may be reasonably supposed to be the action of residents of the village where such destruction has taken place.
One fuel stealer was banished, on a second conviction, for the unlawful removal of trees from a Government Plantation. With regard to the agreements made with the occupants of matsheds mentioned in last year's report, a sum of $30 was received for damage done to trees within a radius of 500 yards from such matsheds.