AFFORESTATION.
51. In this branch of the department I have to report another extension of operations. Last year I recorded a large increase over the previous year's work, but the work of 1882 was exceeded by about 60,000 trees in 1883. The planting season commenced at the end of January, and the last tree was planted before the end of July.
52. The total number of trees planted was 311,963, and 845,646 patches had seeds of the Chinese pine, the varnish tree, the tea-oil tree, and two species of oak sown in situ. The total is thus one million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred and nine, i.e., sixty thousand in excess of any previous year. Of this number 272,234 were patches of previous year's sowings which were resown in consequence of a small proportion of patches having been washed out by heavy rains, and having suffered in periods of drought.
53. Most of the pine trees were reared and supplied by contract, under control. One of the contractors who was a man from whom great success was not expected failed to produce the number provided for in the contract, but the other contractor had a surplus which was in excess of the other one's deficit, therefore the whole number required was secured by taking over the surplus. The trees having been reared in new ground were very well grown, and after they were planted they continued to flourish with no failures.
54. The rest of the trees were all grown in our own nurseries, chiefly those at Soo-kum Po and Kowloon. The soil in the Kowloon nursery showed signs of impoverishment and a change of crops was made to allow the soil to regain its fertility. Although there is a large area of enclosed ground in the Kau-lung nursery there is only a small portion which is fit for rearing trees on. A very large portion is too swampy to be of any use, and some other parts consist of extremely poor soil, or are too much exposed to winds. The work of keeping the ground clear of weeds being very heavy, an arrangement existed with two or three men for them to weed the portions under tree cultivation in return for the privilege of being allowed to cultivate for their own benefit for one season the portions from which trees have been lifted, thus preparing the land, after a year's vegetable growing, for other crops of trees. Until the occupation of the Observatory these men were allowed to grow rice in the swampy ground, but the Sanitary Department being of opinion that these paddy fields would be inimical to the health of the occupants of the Observatory the privilege of cultivating rice has been withdrawn.
55. In the early part of the year a consignment of carob seeds—Ceratonia siliqua—was received from the Cyprus Government in response to a request which had been made for them. The seeds were sown in the Garden Nursery in beds during the dry season, and they germinated and grew wonderfully well until the summer rains set in, in May, when, owing to the excessive wet and heat combined a large number of seedlings perished. Of those which survived, 1,224 were transplanted during the summer to the hills where a piece of ground had been prepared for them by terracing, trenching and manuring. They did not endure the operation at all well, but there are a good many still alive, and these have made very fair growth.
56. A good supply of seeds of the Chinese varnish tree—Aleurites vernicia—was sown in 13,360 sites, two seeds in each, and the patches, about 18 feet apart, were distributed amongst patches at six feet apart sown with pine seeds. The seedlings from these are all doing well and they made very satisfactory progress during the summer season. Should they continue to flourish the pine trees will be cut out when the varnish trees require their room. Even apart from the value of the oil which the seeds yield in abundance and which is in such great demand locally for oiling the wood of boats and other purposes the tree is a most desirable one to lend beauty to the landscape from its large light green foliage and pretty white flowers.
57. Two pieces of ground were terraced in the same way as is done in the Cassia Lignea districts and planted with some of the plants of the cassia tree which I brought back from the West River in 1882. The plants have established themselves and made excellent growth. It is possible that with careful management this tree might become of considerable economic importance here.
58. In the spring a Chinese gentleman from the cassia district of Loting brought me a nice lot of fresh seeds of cassia. These were sown and yielded a good supply of plants, some of which have been forwarded to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, another case being ready for despatch to the Ceylon Royal Botanic Gardens. Both Dr. KING and TRIMEN requested a further supply to those which were sent before.
59. A few plants of both the Chinese and Indian tea plants were planted in prepared ground on the hills as an experiment.
1
AFFORESTATION.
51. In this branch of the department I have to report another extension of operations. Last year I recorded a large increase over the previous year's work, but the work of 1882 was exceeded by about 60,000 trees in 1883. The planting season commenced at the end of January, and the last tree was planted before the end of July.
52. The total number of trees planted was 311,963, and 845,646 patches had seeds of the Chinese pine, the varnish tree, the tea-oil tree, and two species of oak sown in situ. The total is thus one million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred and nine, i.e., sixty thousand in excess of any previous year. Of this number 272,234 were patches of previous year's sowings which were resown in consequence of a small proportion of patches having been washed out by heavy rains, and having suffered în periods of drought.
53. Most of the pine trees were reared and supplied by contract, under control. One of the contractors who was a man from whom great success was not expected failed to produce the number provided for in the contract, but the other contractor had a surplus which was in excess of the other ones deficit, therefore the whole number required was secured by taking over the surplus. The trees having been reared in new ground were very well grown, and after they were planted they continued to flourish with no failures.
54. The rest of the trees were all grown in our own nurseries, chiefly those at Soo-kum Po and Kowloon. The soil in the Kowloon nursery showed signs of impoverishment and a change of crops was made to allow the soil to regain its fertility. Although there is a large area of enclosed ground in the Kau-lung nursery there is only a small portion which is fit for rearing trees on. A very large portion is too swampy to be of any use, and some other parts consist of extremely poor soil, or are too much exposed to winds. The work of keeping the ground clear of weeds being very heavy, an arrangement existed with two or three men for them to weed the portions under tree cultivation in return for the privilege of being allowed to cultivate for their own benefit for one season the portions from which trees have been lifted, thus preparing the land, after a year's vegetable growing, for other crops of trees. Until the occupation of the Observatory these men were allowed to grow rice in the swainpy ground, but the Sanitary Department being of opinion that these paddy fields would be inimical to the health of the occupants of the Observatory the privilege of cultivating rice has been withdrawn.
55. In the early part of the year a consignment of carob seeds-Ceratonia siliqua-was received from the Cyprus Government in response to a request which had been made for them. The seeds were sown in the Garden Nursery in beds during the dry season, and they germinated and grew wonderfully well until the summer rains set in, in May, when, owing to the excessive wet and heat combined a large number of seedlings perished. Of those which survived, 1,224 were transplanted during the summer to the hills where a piece of ground had been prepared for them by terracing, trenching and manuring. They did not endure the operation at all well, but there are a good many still alive, and these have made very fair growth.
56. A good supply of seeds of the Chinese varnish tree-Aleurites vernicia -was sown in 13,360 sites, two seeds in each, and the patches, about 18 feet apart, were distributed amongst patches at six feet apart sown with pine seeds. The seedlings from these are all doing well and they made very satisfactory progress during the summer season. Should they continue to flourish the pine trees will be cut out when the varnish trees require their room. Even apart from the value of the oil which the seeds yield in abundance and which is in such great demand locally for oiling the wood of boats and other purposes the tree is a most desirable one to lend beauty to the landscape from its large light green foliage and pretty white flowers.
57. Two pieces of ground were terraced in the same way as is done in the Cassia Lignea districts and planted with some of the plants of the cassia tree which I brought back from the West River in 1882. The plants have established themselves and made excellent growth. It is possible that with careful management this tree might become of considerable economic importance here.
58. In the spring a Chinese gentleman from the cassia district of Loting brought me a nice lot of fresh seeds of cassia. These were sown and yielded a good supply of plants, some of which have been forwarded to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, another case being ready for despatch to the Ceylon Royal Botanic Gardens. Both Dr. KING and TRIMEN requested a further supply to those which were sent before.
59. A few plants of both the Chinese and Indian tea plants were planted in prepared ground on the hills as an experiment.
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