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At Cheung Chau a further plantation of one year old camphors was formed among the young Pines.
Care of trees in plantations.
Plantations of young trees were cleared of the worst of the undergrowth and creepers. Large number of clumps of Loranthus were removed from trees in all parts of the Colony.
Pine tree caterpillars very fortunately made their appearance in small numbers only, the worst attack being made on the young Pines adjoining Kowloon Catchwater; the total weight collected and destroyed was 42 pounds.
Protection from fire.
One new fire-barrier 20 feet in breadth and 1,450 feet in length was made at Taipo Forestry Reserve and another in the vicinity of the wireless station buildings at Cape D'Aguilar, 3,852 feet in length.
Old fire-barriers were cleared of undergrowth and grass; the total length dealt with amounted to 17 miles in the New Territories, 15 miles in Hong Kong and 53 miles at Fanling.
All forestry paths were cleared of grass and undergrowth and the necessary repairs carried out where landslips had occurred.
Nurseries, Agriculture, &c.
At Little Hong Kong Nursery over 7,000 young Camphor trees were raised in readiness for planting out in the adjoining valley where the old natural forest formerly stood.
Fanling Experimental Garden.
Large numbers of young trees of Aleurites montana, Poinciana regia and Cinnamomum Camphora were raised on spare ground in the garden; these trees were used on the roadsides between Fanling and Shataukok and Fanling and Castle Peak and from Sheung Shui to Taipo.
Young plants of the Smooth Cayenne Pineapple were distributed in small lots in order to encourage the growing of this fruit.
At Taipo Forestry Reserve a tree nursery was established and numbers of young trees of economic value were raised, they will be planted in the reserve in due course. A service path has been made on the hills over the whole length of the reserve, this will enable the staff to reach and deal with forest fires.
Kowloon Tsai Nurseries.
Stocks of trees were raised for use in plantations and roadside planting throughout the Colony. 5,000 young camphor trees were lifted and basketed at the end of the year for planting in 1926.