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Leighton Hill Quarters; Colonial Cemetery; Indian School; Royal Observatory; Central British School; Kowloon Magistracy; Kowloon Hospital; King's Park and Chatham Road. The grounds of all the places mentioned were kept in good order. Stocks of pot plants were maintained where necessary; trees, shrubs, grass lawns and banks, received general attention and additional planting was carried out where necessary.
HERBARIUM AND LIBRARY.
13. During the year 1,282 specimens were sent out on an exchange basis and 682 specimens were received for incorporation into the general herbarium. Exchanges were effected with the Sun Yat Sen University, Canton, and Lingnan University, Canton.
14. The total number of books added to the library was 182, and of periodicals 431. Of this number 11 books were purchased. The Prison Department rebound 11 volumes.
FORESTRY.
15. Formation of Pine Tree Plantations.-The extension of old and the formation of new plantations both on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories was carried out by sowing in situ and by broadcasting, using seeds of Pinus Massoniana Lamb. Sowings in situ were confined to Hong Kong and totalled 352,758 as against 306,102 for the previous year, an increase of 44,656. Many of the areas dealt with were burnt sections which formerly were occupied, for the greater part, by a grass and shrubby covering. (Generally these fires involve only a few Pines which form part of the natural covering and opportunities thus occur to increase the area under Pine.) Further extensions were carried out to the Tai Hang Valley area mentioned in the Report for the year 1936.
16. Sowing by the broadcast method was carried out both in Hong Kong and in Kowloon and the New Territories. The chief areas dealt with were Tai Hang Valley, Tytam and Tytam Tuk.
17. Generally, this method is employed in sections where it is impracticable to dig pits for in situ sowing. It has been found very effective in obtaining a quick cover for the loose soil slopes resulting from the cutting of roads and sites on hillsides. In this Colony, Pinus Massoniana Lamb. has proved to be an exceptionally useful "pioneer" plant.