AnnualReport-1924 — Page 485

- N 7

The following flowering and shade trees

shade trees were planted alongside the principal roads in Hongkong, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, Eucalyptus tereticornis 58. Callistemon rigidus 152, Camphor 17, Bauhinia variegata 19, Lagerstroemia indica 9, also small numbers of the following were planted to replace failures, Poinciana regia, Aleurites montana and Tristania conferta.

Miscellaneous Planting:-At Sung Wong Toi near Kowloon City the whole hill was planted with a mixed collection of shade trees, flowering and other shrubs after the thick clumps of Pandanus had been cleared; on the earth banks on either side of Stubbs Road 345 Ficus repens were planted.

On Crown Land adjoining Villa Miramare at Pokfulum 10 Artocarpus integrifolia and 57 mixed shrubs and trees were planted.

At Stanley Military Cemetery the trees planted in former years are making slow progress owing to high winds, Casuarina equisetifolia is the only tree which has become well established; the following trees and shrubs were planted inside the cemetery walls during the year Bauhinin variegata 12, Callistemon rigidus 10, Aleurites triloba 19, the large trees of Ficus retusa which were planted outside the walls have failed to withstand the high winds which are so frequently experienced at this somewhat bleak spot.

Trees Felled:-At Shing Mun large numbers of Pinus Massoniana and other native trees were removed at the request of the Public Works Department to allow of road-building and other works in both Hongkong and Kowloon the sale of land for building lots has necessitated the removal of many thousands of trees.

One very fine specimen of Bombax malabaricum had to be sacrificed at "Jardine's Hill", Praya East, to allow of road improvements.

Undergrowth Clearing:-This work is now carried on throughout the whole year instead of during the summer months only; the total area cleared in connection with the anti-malarial campaign was 7,607,777 square feet and for the Public Works Department a total area of 7,034,635 square feet was cleared in connection with the making of surveys of roads, building sites and catchment areas.

Lantana and Privet Destruction:-This was carried on throughout the whole year and the latter plant is gradually being brought under control.

Care of Trees in Plantations:-Clumps of Loranthus were removed and very large numbers of creepers cut.