N 8
from the latter. Such a survey has the advantages of bringing up to date our knowledge of local bamboos and of affording Dr. McClure an opportunity of increasing his knowledge of bamboos in this section of the Chinese zone. In the interests of the Colony generally, the offer was accepted by Government and the survey was in progress at the end of the year. When the survey is complete and the material worked out, Dr. McClure proposes to publish an account of the survey and of the species collected.
39. Botanical Collection of Bambuseae (Living Specimens).—On the advice and with the assistance of Dr. McClure, it was proposed to build up a living collection of Bamboos for Botanical purposes. The first steps were taken and a number of plants of different species (supplied by Dr. McClure) were housed temporarily at the Sheung Shui Experimental Nursery. It is hoped to make this collection as complete as possible, at any rate, in respect to Chinese and Tropical species generally and to this end assistance was sought from various botanical centres. Such a collection will be very valuable from a scientific point of view and will take some years to build up. It is hoped to obtain material from many sources, chiefly on an exchange basis. (Note. An excellent site for this collection has been decided upon and it is proposed to have this area surveyed and to draw up a plan for systematic planting of the collection).
AGRICULTURE, ETC.
40. Fan Ling Experimental Garden.—The Citrus plots again produced a good crop of fruits but they were all blown away by the typhoon in September. The typhoon caused considerable havoc amongst the various fruit trees and all fruits on the remaining trees were blown away. Foreign vegetables of good quality were again cultivated for demonstration purposes and for exhibition at the Annual Show of the New Territories Agricultural Association, which was held at Shek Wu Hui on January 9th & 10th.
41. Inspection of Nursery Stock and Vegetable Products.—The following shipments were inspected and certified for export:—54 dried and fresh vegetable consignments, for export to the Philippine Islands; 19 consignments of Narcissus Tazetta L., containing 57,000 bulbs for export to Britain, Canada, Honolulu, India, Australia, Burma and Mexico; 24 consignments of Sugar Cane containing 193,500 canes exported to Singapore; 16 small lots of miscellaneous seeds and plants exported to various countries.