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surveyed by the P.W.D. and a contour plan supplied. It is intended to plan the planting in this area on systematic lines and sections will be allotted to genera in accordance with their size and type.
49. The following gardens, parks, etc., were maintained in good order throughout the year:-Mountain Lodge; Fan Ling Bungalow; Colonial Secretary's Residence; The Eyrie; Homestead Quarters; Government Pavilions and Villas; Victoria Hospital; Cenotaph Plots; Statue Square Plots; Government Offices; Defence Corps Headquarters; West End Park; Civil Hospital; Mental Hospital; Leighton Hill Quarters; Colonial Cemetery; Indian School; Royal Observatory; Central British School; Kowloon Magistracy; Kowloon Hospital; King's Park and Chatham Road.
50. The total number of trees, shrubs and pot plants sold during the year was 1123 as against 2948 for 1937.
AGRICULTURE.
51. This side of the work of the department is necessarily of a restricted nature as there is no actual provision for such work the cost being borne by the forestry vote. However, such work as the department is able to do is carried out at the Sheung Shui experimental garden which is situated in the New Territories. The land is approximately 3 acres in extent and is in two levels. The area was obviously padi land at one time and most of the lower and smaller section is still retained for this purpose. The upper and larger section is under general cultivation and is used for such experimental work as the department is able to perform. Despite some years of cultivation the soil in this section is still very heavy from the generations of puddling for rice cultivation. It suffers from the disabilities of such soils, being heavy and inclined to become waterlogged in wet weather and quickly drying and forming a hard crust during sunny weather. From this it may be inferred that it is not an ideal soil for experimental purposes.
52. Sheung Shui Experimental Garden-General notes for the year are as follows: The oranges (Swatow) produced a very fine crop this year. The fruits were of large size and the majority of them of good flavour and they compared very favourably indeed with the imported fruit. In every respect they were far superior to the smaller local variety. The replacement of present propagation methods by grafting on local stocks, should make it a useful variety for the local population to take up as there is a good market in Hong Kong for the Swatow orange. The figs produced a heavy crop, but the flavour was somewhat insipid. This might be improved by attention to cultivation. Peaches were produced in abundance and it seems clear that the introduction of some good varieties for grafting purposes, with the local type as the stock, might produce good results. Bananas continued to produce good bunches and would seem to be a fruit worthy of extended cultivation if only from a nutrition point of view.
53. Experimental Notes--Tung Oil (Aleurites montana)-It was decided to try out this plant under open plantation conditions and as bushes rather than trees. For this purpose two separate areas have been planted up. Useful data, such as length of time required to produce fruit, etc., under Hong Kong conditions should be obtainable while certain other aspects of the crop will be studied. Rice-Small quantities of six varieties of rice were obtained from Sydney (Plant Breeding Station) for trial purposes. These have been raised by hybridisation and in some of the crosses local varieties have been used. Results from the first sowings have been generally good and it is hoped to build up supplies of seeds in sufficiently large quantities to enable comparative trials with local varieties to be carried out. Sweet Potatoes-Tubers of six selected varieties were obtained from the Malayan Agricultural Department, and are being grown experimentally with control plots of local varieties.
54. Inspection of Plants and Plant Products for Export-Certificates of inspection were issued during the year for the following:-Vegetables (fresh or dry) to Philippine Islands (66 consignments), Sugar Cane-to Singapore (10 consignments).
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surveyed by the P.W.D. and a contour plan supplied. It is intended to plan the planting in this area on systematic lines and sections will be allotted to genera in accordance with their size and type.
49. The following gardens, parks, etc., were maintained in good order throughout the year:-Mountain Lodge; Fan Ling Bungalow; Colonial Secretary's Residence; The Eyrie; Homestead Quarters; Government Pavilions and Villas; Victoria Hospital; Cenotaph Plots; Statue Square Plots; Government Offices; Defence Corps Headquarters; West End Park; Civil Hospital; Mental Hospital; Leighton Hill Quarters; Colonial Cemetary; Indian School; Royal Observatory; Central British School; Kowloon Magistracy; Kowloon Hospital; King's Park and Chatham Road.
50. The total number of trees, shrubs and pot plants sold during the year was 1123 as against 2948 for 1937.
AGRICULTURE.
51. This side of the work of the department is necessarily of a restricted nature as there is no actual provision for such work the cost being borne by the forestry vote. However, such work as the department is able to do is carried out at the Sheung Shui experimental garden which is situated in the New Territories. The land is approximately 3 acres in extent and is in two levels. The area was obviously padi land at one time and most of the lower and smaller section is still retained for this purpose. The upper and larger section is under general cultivation and is used for such experimental work as the department is able to perform. Despite some years of cultivation the soil in section is still very heavy from the generations of puddling for rice cultivation. It suffers from the disabilities of such soils, being heavy and inclined to become waterlogged in wet weather and quickly drying and forming a hard crust during sunny weather. From this it may be inferred that it is not an ideal soil for experimental purposes.
52. Sheung Shui Experimental Garden-General notes for the year are as follows: The oranges (Swatow) produced a very fine crop this year. The fruits were of large size and the majority of them of good flavour and they compared very favourably indeed with the imported fruit. In every respect they were far superior to the smaller local variety. The replacement of present propagation methods by grafting on local stocks, should make it a useful variety for the local population to take up as there is a good market in Hong Kong for the Swatow orange. The figs produced a heavy crop, but the flavour was somewhat insipid. This might be improved by attention to cultivation. Peaches were produced in abundance and it seems clear that the introduction of some good varieties for grafting purposes, with the local type as the stock, might produce good results. Bananas continued to produce good bunches and would seem to be a fruit worthy of extended cultivation if only from a nutrition point of view.
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53. Experimental Notes--Tung Oil (Aleurites montana)-It was decided to try out this plant under open plantation conditions and as bushes rather than trees. For this purpose two separate areas have been planted up. Useful data, such as length of time required to produce fruit, etc., under Hong Kong conditions should be obtainable while certain other aspects of the crop will be studied. Rice-Small quantities of six varieties of rice were obtained from Sydney (Plant Breeding Station) for trial purposes. These have been raised by hybridisation and in some of the crosses local varieties have been used. Results from the first sowings have been generally good and it is hoped to build up supplies of seeds in sufficiently large quantities to enable comparative trials with local varieties to be carried out. Sweet Potatoes-Tubers of six selected varieties were obtained from the Malayan Agricultural Department, and are being grown experimentally with control plots of local varieties.
54. Inspection of Plants and Plant Products for Export-Certificates of inspection were issued during the year for the following:-Vegetables (fresh or dry) to Philippine Islands (66 consignments), Sugar Cane-to Singapore (10 consign-
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