AnnualReport-1882 — Page 73

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 137.

GARDENS.

The following Report from the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 14th April, 1883

W. H MARSH,

Colonial Secretary

BOTANIC GARDEN,

HONGKONG, April 4th, 1883.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the work of this department for the year 1882

2. In connection with the usual routine work I may mention that the Garden Staff has made unusual progress in general efficiency. The general organisation is rapidly improving and the results of the efforts of the staff have been much more satisfactory than those of former years. This result is in a great measure attributable to the more suitable office accommodation, the clerical assistance, and the improved means of interpretation to the native staff, all of which had been so greatly needed, and which have now enabled the working of the whole establishment to be put on a more methodical footing.

3. A portion of the soil in all the flower beds has been removed and replaced with new soil. This was done in consequence of the plants showing signs of an exhausted food supply, no change or addition of soil having been made for many years. The flower beds, as usual, have been planted twice, and in some instances three times, during the year. The plants used during the dry season—October to March, inclusive—are chiefly annuals. There is but little difficulty in obtaining plants in sufficient variety for the purpose; but during the other six months, i.e., the hot and wet season, there is some difficulty in keeping the beds attractive in consequence of the rampant growth of the plants and the small selection of those suitable for the climate. This is a subject of perplexity in other places besides this, where the climate is similar to ours, but there is hope that the realisation of an efficient summer display of flowering and foliage bedding plants is not far distant, as during the last few years there has been a considerable acceleration of plants adapted to this kind of decorative work.

4. Owing to the exceptionally dry termination of the wet season, and the subsequent dry months, many trees and shrubs ceased flowering much sooner than customary, thus causing a great scarcity of flowers, but we shall probably reap an advantage from this in a greater profusion of blossom by and by in consequence of the better rest which the plants have obtained.

5. In accordance with custom, plants in pots and cut flowers have been lent freely for public decorative purposes, the recipients paying the cost of conveyance of the plants from and their return to the Gardens. The supply of cut flowers for sale by the native market gardeners has greatly increased during the last few years, therefore when there is a sufficiency available from those people it would, I think, be reasonable to expect that we should not be asked to furnish cut flowers for private purposes, as has sometimes been done, but that the flowers should remain on the plants in the Gardens to be there enjoyed by visitors.

6. During the six dry months the chief occupation of the staff is in watering work, which, this season, has been more than usually heavy, and which has prevented some improvements being effected in the Gardens. It is to be hoped that when the Tytam Water Works are complete the demands of the Garden for a liberal supply of water will be taken into favourable consideration.

7. A great saving in the time of the workmen has been effected by the introduction of mowing machines, besides the great improvement achieved in the condition of the lawns. Those having tennis and other lawns would find it much more satisfactory to obtain small machines with which their gardeners could keep the grass in order, than to submit to the present method of cutting the grass with scythes, or, in a great many instances, with shears in cases where the gardeners cannot be induced to learn to use a scythe. A little supervision in the management of the machines would keep them in order and they would last many years.

8. Another year has fortunately passed without the visitation of a typhoon, and no other serious misfortune to plant-life, or the order of the Gardens, has occurred to injure them or mar their beauty. There is, however, one serious defect, which I had the honour to allude to in my last Report, that still remains as it was, viz., the Land-slip in the Glenealy Ravine. It is to be hoped that steps may be initiated soon to wipe out this sad disfigurement and to again afford the Public the means of access to the New Garden from Robinson Road.