N 2
A small bed was made and planted with Brunfelsia undulata. This plant produces flowers very freely four times a year in Hong-kong. Last year it flowered in February, April, July, and October.
The three trees of Paulownia Fortunei flowered well. As the flower buds began to open they were attacked by birds and it was not until a coolie had been stationed near the trees to scare the birds away that the flowers developed properly.
The specimens of Lysidice rhodostegia were a very striking feature when in flower, the pink-coloured bracts being very conspicuous.
The old Brownea Ariza in the Old Garden and the large Bauhinia Blakeana in the New Garden were supported with strong iron stays, and it is hoped that these will prevent the trees from being blown down by typhoons.
Chrysanthemums, Japanese Lilies and Renanthera coccinea in pots were especially good when in flower.
The plant houses, aviaries, etc., were repaired, painted and colourwashed in October.
Garden seats, gates and railings were painted and side channels pointed.
The concrete path on the west side of the Old Garden, leading from the bandstand to the College Gardens' entrance, was broken up as the concrete had perished, and the surface re-laid with cement-granite concrete.
Unconcreted paths were re-surfaced with disintegrated granite. Several thousand flowering shrubs were raised for planting in various parts of the Colony.
The plants in the herbaceous border in the New Garden were taken up, divided and replanted.
A bamboo hedge at the upper end of the Old Garden was taken up and replaced with Chrysalidocarpus palms.
In the early part of the year there was a fine show in the plant houses of Eranthemum pulchellum, a species with lovely, bright blue flowers.
The Glenealy rockeries were overhauled and new plants put in to fill up vacancies.
The heavy rains in June caused three small landslips in the New Garden but the damage done was trifling.
The annual show of the Hongkong Horticultural Society was held in the Old Garden on the 3rd and 4th March.
Vegetables from the Peak and the lower levels were very good but flowering plants in pots and cut flowers were not quite up to the average.
On the evening of the 19th October, "Our Day", a concert was held on the lower terrace in the Old Garden.