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Concrete walks in the Old Garden which required renewing were re-laid with cement and granite. As all these walks are on the slope, rough cement and granite give a much better foothold than concrete.
All the boundary walls of both gardens were re-pointed with cement.
The roof of the No. 9 house was renewed and the other houses have had minor repairs done where necessary.
A trellis was erected over a part of the deer pen and plants of Wistaria multijuga were obtained from Japan for covering it. This species produces much longer racemes of flowers than the ordinary Wistaria sinensis.
Government House Grounds.-The area used for growing pot plants was made into a lawn, and the walks slightly altered so as to allow of sufficient space for a tennis court. The soil needed for this purpose was obtained from the vegetable garden. A fence was erected around the lawn and covered with creepers to shut off the coolie quarters.
The vegetable garden was transferred to Sookunpo, and the area formerly used as a vegetable garden converted into a place for growing pot plants.
Caterpillars were troublesome in the Autumn on both the old and new lawns, but were kept in check by applications of Jeyes' Fluid diluted with water.
Mountain Lodge Grounds. Three small paths were made in the grounds around the valley to the East of the house. Walks which were rather badly damaged by rainstorms were repaired. On the slopes above the stream in the valley, 68 Hydrangeas were planted.
Blake Garden-Cockchafer grubs again proved troublesome and destroyed a considerable portion of the turf. Several attempts were made to obtain, locally, carbon bisulphide to deal with this pest, but without success. A small quantity was obtained from the Government Analyst and the turf which was treated with it remained uninjured. Two or three new drains were put in to drain the swamps, and willow trees were planted in other parts of the garden which were more or less damp.
Lycoris bulbs which were planted the previous year flowered profusely in the Autumn.
Peak Garden.-The extension which was commenced in 1909 was completed. This comprised an area of 645 square yards which was levelled and turfed.
West End Park-No upkeep for this Park is allowed for in the Estimates, but it has been kept in as good a condition as possible out of the vote for Maintenance of Gardens and Grounds.