AnnualReport-1923 — Page 454

N 11

Sukunpo Vegetable Garden :- Three large Eucalyptus tereti- cornis and one Melaleuca Leucadendron were blown down and kill- ed by the typhoon of August 18th. All the young trees of Cassia fistula, Bauhinia variegata and Paulownia Fortunei were taken up and replanted as roadside trees in various parts of the island. AÎI Cannas and Hedychiums in the garden were taken up, divided and replanted in the spring. They were for a short time completely buried by sand and soil carried down from Mt. Caroline by the heavy rain of October 29th-30th.

Beacon Hill Nurseries :-Part of the old 9B Nursery had to be given up this year in connection with the Kowloon Tong Housing Scheme and many young trees which had been raised there were transplanted to the west of the main stream traversing this area. In January two new nurseries, now named 9A Upper and Lower, were formed for the raising of young trees for afforestation during 1924, the following being raised during the year:-10,000 Cinnamomum Camphora, 300 Poinciana regia, and 340 Bauhinia variegata. The growing of Aleurites Fordia and Aleurites montana for the purpose of investigations into the possibilities of the com~ mercial production of wood oil has not been satisfactory as most of the seedlings of both varieties suffered heavily from the typhoons. A further trial of seeds of Aleurites montana has been made at Fanling about 45 pounds of seeds having been raised before the end of the year. A small quantity of seeds of Sciadopytis verticillata was procured from the Yokohama Nursery and sown at 9A Nursery and at Fanling but unfortunately without success. Cuttings of Cunninghamia sinensis were for the first time propagated with fair results. Glyptostrobus heterophylla seeds were also sown for trial. Kapok, seeds of which were sown in 1922, made good progress, but it is too early yet to report on the experiment.

Little Hongkong Nursery :- A sinal nursery was opened at Little Hongkong Old Village last year for the propagation of Camphor trees for the reafforestation of the adjoining forest. A second crop of young trees was raised during this year and is ready

into position in the spring of 1924.

to go

Fanling Experimental Garden :-This garden has during the year been in process of reformation, new areas being laid out and the required channels and paths made. Fruit trees and Pineapples were lifted, rearranged and replanted in better positions. Small trees of the wild Mangosteen (Garcinia oblongifolia) were again tried but without success. The "Smooth Cayenne" pineapples procured from Honolulu are progressing favourably, but so far no fruit has been produced. A large portion of the garden formerly occupied by winter and summer vegetables, was broken up, levelled and sown with seeds of Poinciana regia, Aleurites montana and Perilla ocymoides. It is hoped in due course to furnish a report to the Imperial Institute, London, on the possibilities of wood oil production from Aleurites and Perilla. Tobacco was again experi- mented with.