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the cessation of the supplies of this type of manure normally obtained from the abattoirs. It became necessary, therefore, to substitute other types for the purpose. The ban affected all local horticultural activities and resulted in many requests for advice and assistance. Investigations were proceeding at the end of the year into measures for the treatment of the manure, whereby it would no longer be a menace in respect to fly-borne diseases, though still retaining its value for cultivation purposes.
It is expected that the distribution of animal manures will be resumed in due course.
11. Weather—In regard to weather, the rainfall was slightly above normal. At the Botanic Gardens, 86.48 inches were recorded in 120 days, as against 57.48 inches in 116 days for the previous year. Distribution was as follows:—January to March, 4.55 inches; April to June, 48.46 inches; July to September, 26.98 inches; October to December, 6.49 inches. The dry periods during the first and last quarters, respectively, necessitated a good deal of watering of shrubs, etc. Typhoon signals were hoisted on five occasions, but fortunately, gales of only moderate intensity were experienced, and little damage was done. The typhoon of November 23rd was unusually late and was notable also for the fact that the centre of the disturbance passed over the Colony, an occurrence which the Royal Observatory reported as being very unusual.
FORESTRY.
12. The arrangement of this section of the report follows the lines adopted in the report for the previous year, i.e., in the first instance, the text gives information following the sequence of such of the standard forms compiled by the Imperial Forestry Institute as are applicable locally, and the subsequent information consists of forestry notes of general local interest.
13. Area of Forest Land (Standard Form 1). It is estimated that the total afforested area is approximately 22 square miles. Of this, 18 square miles is situated on Hong Kong Island, and the remainder on the mainland. The Hong Kong areas are continuous, apart from the town area, and provide the island with a forest covering from sea level up to about 800 feet. The areas on the mainland are concentrated in four localities. The yearly planting programme adds to the total of this land, but until the forest areas have been surveyed, it is not possible to give accurate figures. It is hoped that during the next few years, such figures will become available as a result of surveys for forest reserve purposes.
14. Considerable investigations were made into the "forest lot" system of the New Territories. This is a system instituted by Government in 1906 (i.e., 8 years after the New Territories were taken over), whereby areas of hillside are licensed to villages and individuals on annual permit, at a nominal rental of 20 cents per acre per annum, for afforestation purposes. The total area so leased to date is approximately 81 square miles, and during 1939, this produced $9,443.13 in fees. Administration and collection of fees are dealt with by the District Officers, while technical advice and assistance are given by this department. Investigation showed that only about three-quarters of this area has received attention of a planting nature, while the remainder is held for grazing and/or grass-cutting purposes. The area used for forestry purposes is allowed to produce only a sparse covering of pine trees, generally of a stunted type, owing to the local custom of removing side branches (brushwood) in order that grass, etc., may be obtained also. The system, though unsatisfactory from a forestry point of view, has helped to produce and maintain some sort of cover on the hills and, therefore, has served a useful purpose. However, the contrast between the timber produced in Government plantations and that from leased lots is so marked that, in the interests of the Colony and its firewood supplies, it is time the scheme was replaced by something of a more satisfactory nature, with a view to utilising this large area to better advantage. Recently, a report embodying specific recommendations to this effect was forwarded to Government.
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the cessation of the supplies of this type of manure normally obtained from the abattoirs. It became necessary therefore, to substitute other types for the purpose. The ban affected all local horticultural activities and resulted in many requests for advice and assistance. Investigations were proceeding at the end of the year into measures for the treatment of the manure, whereby it would no longer be a menace in respect to fly borne diseases though still retaining its value for cultiva- tion purposes.
It is expected that the distribution of animal manures will be resumed in due course.
11. Weather-In regard to weather the rainfall was slightly above normal. At the Botanic Gardens 86.48 inches were recorded in 120 days as against 57.48 inches in 116 days for the previous year. Distribution was as follows:-January to March 4.55 inches; April to June 48.46 inches; July to September 26.98 inches; October to December 6.49 inches. The dry periods during the first and last quarters respectively, necessitated a good deal of watering of shrubs, etc. Typhoon signals were hoisted on five occasions but fortunately, gales of only moderate intensity were experienced and little damage was done. The typhoon of November 23rd was unusually late and was notable also, for the fact that the centre of the disturbance passed over the Colony, an occurrence which the Royal Observatory reported as being very unusual.
FORESTRY.
12. The arrangement of this section of the report follows the lines adopted in the report for the previous year i.e, in the first instance the text gives information following the sequence of such of the standard forms compiled by the Imperial Forestry Institute as are applicable locally and the subsequent information consists of forestry notes of general local interest.
13. Area of Forest Land (Standard Form 1). It is estimated that the total afforested area is approximately 22 square miles. Of this 18 square miles is situated on Hong Kong Island and the remainder on the mainland. The Hong Kong areas are continuous, apart from the town area, and provide the island with a forest covering from sea level up to about 800 feet. The areas on the mainland are concentrated in four localities. The yearly planting programme adds to the total of this land but until the forest areas have been surveyed it is not possible to give accurate figures. It is hoped that during the next few years such figures will become available as a result of surveys for forest reserve purposes.
14. Considerable investigations were made into the "forest lot" system of the New Territories. This is a system instituted by Government in 1906 (i.e. 8 years after the New Territories were taken over) whereby areas of hillside are licensed to villages and individuals on annual permit, at a nominal rental of 20 cents per acre per annum, afforestation purposes. The total area so leased to date is approximately 81 square miles and during 1939 this produced $9,443.13 in fees. Administration and collection of fees is dealt with by the District Officers while technical advice and assistance is given by this department. Investigation showed that only about three quarters of this area has received attention of a planting nature while the remainder is held for grazing and/or grass cutting purposes. The area used for forestry purposes is allowed to produce only a sparse covering of pine trees, generally of a stunted type owing to the local custom of removing side branches (brushwood), in order that grass, etc. may be obtained also. The system, though unsatisfactory from a forestry point of view, has helped to produce and maintain some sort of cover on the hills and therefore, has served a useful purpose. However, the contrast between the timber produced in Government plantations and that from leased lots is so marked that in the interests of the Colony and its firewood supplies, it is time the scheme was replaced by something of a more satisfactory nature with a view to utilising this large area to better advantage. Recently a report embodying specific recommendations to this effect was forwarded to Government.
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