Appendix N.
REPORT ON THE BOTANICAL AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1925.
HONGKONG.
GENERAL REMARKS.
With the exception of the fourth quarter when only 5.24 inches of rain fell, the weather was generally favourable to both gardening and forestry operations; only a very small number of flowering trees in outlying districts died owing to the slight drought experienced.
The total rainfall for the year was 95.28 inches as against 105.51 inches in 1924. Particulars of rainfall are given in Table I.
Typhoon signals were hoisted six times during the year and the usual precautions were taken on each occasion to prevent damage to pot plants and plant houses in the Gardens; fortunately, no bad storms were experienced and the damage was very slight.
GARDENS, PARKS AND GROUNDS.
Botanic Gardens.-A portion of the large bank above the Palm Plot in the New Garden was cleared of undergrowth and a number of large wild trees removed; the cleared area was then sloped, turfed, and is now available for further planting of flowering shrubs.
A further area below the Pot Nursery, which had been left untouched since the formation of the New Garden, was cleared of undergrowth, the slope levelled, and a large terrace formed; the major portion of this area was planted with flowering annuals and herbaceous plants. Two fine specimens of Lung Ngan (Nephelium Longana), which have stood on this ground for the past 45 years, were not disturbed.
The largest bed in the New Garden was emptied, reshaped, relevelled, and put into good order generally; the stock of flowering shrubs and trees was then replanted.
The Agave bed in the Old Garden was entirely rearranged and thinned out; the stone kerb bounding this bed was reset, which has much improved the appearance of the lower terrace.
Two trees of Spathodea nilotica flowered well for the second time; these trees were raised from seed brought from East Africa and presented by Lady Lugard in 1910.