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Many of the roses in both gardens having become worn out they were taken up and replaced with young plants which had been propagated for that purpose.
The young Cassia Fistula trees in the Old Garden were attacked by a green caterpillar which turned out to be the caterpillar of the butterfly Catopsilia pomona.
During the summer the leaves of violets in pots were very much damaged by a red and black caterpillar which proved to be another butterfly Argynnis hyperbius.
In the New Garden a hedge of prickly bamboo flowered; this was removed and replaced by the Mauritius palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens.
A large Araucaria excelsa which stood at the east end of the lower terrace in the Old Garden was blown down by a sudden gust of wind in August. After it fell it was found that nearly the whole of the trunk had been destroyed by white ants.
The old Crotons in the bed at the Caine Road entrance to Glenealy were taken up and the bed replanted with Brunfelsia Hopeana and Brunfelsia ramosissima.
At the Glenealy end of the Gallery walk several tree ferns were planted.
Ophiopogon, locally known as "blue grass" was taken up in several places in order to have sufficient for planting elsewhere. There is nothing to equal this plant for covering bare ground under trees.
The seed shed in the pot plant nursery which had got beyond repairs was taken down and a new one built on the same site. The old structure was supported by wooden posts but in the new one brick pillars were substituted as being more lasting.
Walks and plant houses were repaired as required and the seats in the Gardens were painted.
In the spring months the basin at the base of the fountain in the Old Garden becomes the home of many frogs and as they keep up their croaking all night long as many as possible are caught and destroyed. Last spring about 500 were accounted for.
The Annual Show of the Hongkong Horticultural Society was held on the 3rd and 4th March. The weather was fine on both days and the show was a great success.
Government House Grounds.-Four groups of Rhododendrons were planted on the bank at the east end of the ballroom.