AnnualReport-1924 — Page 484

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Specimens of economic and other plant products forwarded from various sources were identified for collectors, museums and other institutions. A number of books was purchased and added to the library; all books were regularly inspected and repoisoned.

FORESTRY.

Trees in plantations and elsewhere have now to a great extent recovered from great damage suffered during the 1923 typhoon, during the year the removal of dead and damaged Pinus Massoniana from plantations went on continuously.

As a result of the blowing down of many very large roadside trees and the consequent breakage of telephone and electric light wires, the hard pruning of the largest roadside trees was commenced at the end of the year; the effect is very noticeable and a large amount of shade has been lost, but all trees pruned now offer much less resistance to wind and will consequently have a much better chance of weathering severe storms.

Formation of Pine Tree Plantations:-Seeds of Pinus Massoniana were sown in situ on the following places, seventy- two pounds of seed being used-50,000 on hillsides above the Shek O Road, 20,000 at Quarry Bay, 30,000 on Cheung Chau Island and 20,000 on slopes adjoining the catchment area, Taipo Road.

For the formation of new plantation 657 pounds were sown broadcast on grassy banks above and below Shek O Road, above and below road from Shaukiwan gap to Tytam, above and below Stubbs, Broadwood, Taipo, Tsun Wan and coastal roads and on grassy slopes adjoining public paths on Cheung Chau Island.

Broadcast sowing was carried out on areas badly damaged by fires above Pokfulam Road, below Matilda Hospital, Mt. Kellet and Telegraph Bay, a total of 260 pounds of seed being used.

Two thousand one year old trees of Pinus Massoniana were taken up from ground adjoining Beacon Hill Nursery site and replanted further up the hillsides in Plantations 9A and 9B.

Broad-leaved Trees planted:-At Tai Wo Po all remaining flat spaces were planted with young Camphor trees to the total number of 6,082, similar trees planted in former years under 10 year old Pines at Tai Wo Po are making good progress and have suffered practically no damage from wind.

Along both sides of Shek O Road the following trees and flowering shrubs were planted, Melaleuca Leucadendron, 119, Eucalyptus tereticornis 42, Callistemon rigidus 39, Casuarina equisetifolia 34, Bauhinia variegata 122, Ficus infectoria 19, Celtis sinensis 220 and Sterculia lanceolata 19.