32. Aleurites montana, Wils. All trees produced a heavy crop of seeds, most of which were sold for experimental planting in India and Siam.
33. Taipo Kau Forestry Reserve.-The existing plantations of Cunninghamia sinensis, R. Br. and Acacia confusa, Merr. were increased by the addition of 8,000 young trees of the former and 2,600 of the latter, all were raised in the reserve nursery. In various parts of the reserve 1,700 mixed shade and flowering trees were planted.
34. Seeds of Pinus khasya, Royle and Pinus Merkusii, Jungh were obtained from the Principal Forest Officer, Federated Shan States, Burma and sown in the nursery. The first named seeds germinated well and the young trees were in excellent condition at the end of the year; the second showed a very low percentage of germination. One new service path was made. A heavy rainstorm in August washed away all the bridges.
35. Forest Guards Services.-Cases of damage to plantations, indigenous trees, flowering shrubs and plants were numerous in all districts; the worst offenders are men, many of them comparative newcomers to the Colony, who appear to live solely on the proceeds of thefts of timber suitable for use as fuel, obtained from plantations adjoining thickly populated areas.
36. The total number of persons arrested for all classes of forestry offences by Forest Guards was 251, of these 244 were convicted and 7 discharged. The Police arrested 972 persons of whom 955 were convicted and 17 discharged. Thirty-eight persistent offenders who were convicted of two or more offences, were banished.
Full particulars of the cases are given in Tables I and II.
37. Preservation of Local Flora.-Serious damage is still being done to many species of flowering shrubs, Orchids and ferns; during the past few years, numbers of the rarest plants have been lifted and established in Mount Collinson Prohibited Area, but strong measures are still needed to deal with plant collectors who supply unlicensed hawkers. A flower and plant market, chiefly supported by unlicensed sellers, has come into existence in the vicinity of Kowloon Tong and during the past year the collectors for and sellers in this market, destroyed many thousands of the plants referred to. The Plant Ordinance was in November amended so as to include thirty additional species in the list of prohibited plants, this measure will greatly assist the work of the Department and the Police.
38. Lantana Destruction.-Although this plant has so far been prevented from becoming a menace to agriculture, it will require to be closely watched by the Department and by landowners. Large areas were destroyed during the year, but little real good is done by this method, as it spreads extremely rapidly by seed distribution.