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In connection with extensions at Kowloon and Yaumati Reservoir and the formation of the site for new cemeteries at Fo Pang Hang numbers of Pinus Massoniana had to be removed from the adjoining plantations.
At the top of the earth banks of the reclamation at Ap Lei Chau a large number of Camphors, Pines and Tristania had to be felled to allow for the removal of earth and to prevent landslides.
Very large numbers of Pine and other trees were removed from building sites in all parts of the Colony.
Care of Trees in Plantations.—Insect pests were fortunately much less troublesome than during the preceding year; the Pine Tree Caterpillar made its appearance in small numbers only at Fan Ling, these were immediately collected and destroyed.
Creepers on Pine and other trees in Hongkong and the New Territories were continuously cut and removed.
Pine seedlings in pits, which are raised from seed sown in sufficient numbers to allow of the germination of 5 seeds to one pit, were regularly inspected and where found to be too thick the weakest were cut out.
White Ants, which attack Camphor and other trees during the dry season, were as fast as possible removed and large numbers of trees which had been attacked treated with Carbolineum.
Dead trees were removed from plantations in all parts of the Colony.
Damage done to plantations by persons cutting wood for fuel and by grass-cutters who destroy the seedling Pines was most noticeable in the vicinity of Cheung Sha Wan, Shaukiwan, Pokfulam and Kowloon City, the Forest Guards arrested a large number of the offenders.
Protection from Fire.—The Tsing Ming Festival was on April 5th, and the Tsung Yeung on October 9th. As usual the whole of the outdoor staff of the Department assisted by 150 extra coolies, were engaged in watching for fires caused by various ceremonies at the graves in which sacrificial paper and fire-crackers are used.
Eight fires occurred on the day of the first and 8 on the day of the second festival mentioned, these were dealt with as quickly as possible and the damage to plantations was slight.
The thanks of the Department are due to the Honourable the Secretary for Chinese Affairs for lending District Watchmen to assist the forestry staff to watch for and deal with fires on both days.
10 fires occurred in plantations during the first quarter, 12 in the second, 2 in the third and 43 in the fourth, making a total of 67 for the year compared with 47 during the previous year.
The most serious of these occurred at Stanley Gap, where, before the fire could be checked, 500 Pines were killed and about 1,000 badly damaged.