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Large numbers of Tristania conferta and Cinnamomum Camphora were given a dressing of Solignum to prevent damage by white ants.
Pine tree plantations were free from attack by caterpillars, this most fortunate circumstance being very probably due to unfavourable weather conditions during an early stage of the life cycle of the pest.
Protection from fire.
The new fire barrier round the Hin Tin Tsun forestry area was completed in August, new barriers 20 feet in breadth were cut round every grave on hills above and below Shek O Road.
The majority of all old fire barriers were cleared before the commencement of the dry season, the total length dealt with amounted to 23 miles in Hong Kong, 7 miles in the New Territories and 5 miles at Fan Ling. The work was still in progress at the end of the year.
All forestry paths were cleared of undergrowth, rocks and other debris, small portions which had been washed out were re-cut and resurfaced.
Nurseries, Agriculture, &c.
Fan Ling Experimental Garden. Two plots of Jute (Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius) were tried for the first time, the first named grew well and reached a height of 7 feet when it was harvested and retted, samples were forwarded to the Imperial Institute and a report received in due course stated that the fibre was of excellent quality.
Two plots of a large variety of Ground Nuts were planted in an area heavily dressed with vegetable ash and common lime, a heavy crop of excellent nuts was harvested, so far attempts at inducing the farmers to use the improved variety of nut have not been successful.
One plot of Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) was raised, 33 per cent of the young plants (which are biennial) survived the heavy summer rains and were healthy at the end of the year. In due course the fresh leaves will be supplied to the Medical Department.
Little Hong Kong and Kowloon Tsai Tree Nurseries. Large numbers of seedling trees were raised for use on the Island in the former and for the New Territories in the latter.
China Fir (Cunninghamia sinensis) seeds collected locally were sown in both nurseries and gave a high percentage of germination, formerly all young trees were raised from cuttings which were not easily obtainable.