1887-1903
HONG KONG, 1901,
13
(D.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE, AND AGRICULTURE.
The Forestry and Botanical Department is under the charge of a Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, aided by a large staff of gardeners and foresters. Perhaps the most important work carried on by this Department is the planting of trees. Camphors have been planted as an experiment in the New Territory, but it is feared that they cannot be grown there so as to give an adequate return on the capital invested. The experiment was not successful, but will be repeated. Rubbers were also tried, but the climate is not suitable to this Central American and Malayan tree and most of the plants died in the cold season.
351
Much interesting botanical work is yearly carried on in Hong Kong. Mr. Ford, the Superintendent, has shown that the total number of plants, exclusive of mosses, lichens, sea-weeds and fungi, indigenous to Hong Kong, is 1,397, probably more than are indigenous to the whole of the British Isles. Plants and seeds are regularly interchanged with other botanical institutions, and the number of plants which are successfully introduced into the Colony by this means is constantly increasing. It is hoped that before long an experimental economic garden will be established in the New Territory for the purpose of introducing and distributing amongst the natives new plants of economic value.
The hilly character of the Island and its comparative absence of fertilising soil has prevented agriculture from becoming an active source of industry in Hong Kong. The acreage of cultivated land in the Island is a little over 400 acres only. The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, however, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive is the New Territory, which, though intersected by extensive ranges of barren hills, contains valleys where rice and sugar and other crops are grown with success. The acreage of cultivated land in the New Territory (including the islands) is not far short of 100,000, but much of this contains exceedingly poor soil and consists of minute holdings belonging to the poorest class of peasants. The Government has taken steps to introduce some better qualities of sugar-cane into the New Territory. Some attempts have been made to grow the mulberry but without success.
(E.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The
The available amount of building land in Hong Kong, except in the New Territory, is so limited that it has for many years commanded a very high price, and land premia and Crown rents form a considerable portion of the Colonial Revenue. Land in
1887-1903
HONG KONG, 1901,
13
(D.) FORESTRY, BOTANICAL SCIENCE, AND AGRICULTURE.
The Forestry and Botanical Department is under the charge of a Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, aided by a large staff of gardeners and foresters. Perhaps the most im- portant work carried on by this Department is the planting of trees. Camphors have been planted as an experiment in the New Territory, but it is feared that they cannot be grown there so as to give an adequate return on the capital invested. The experiment was not successful, but will be repeated. Rubbers were also tried, but the climate is not suitable to this Central American and Malayan tree and most of the plants died in the cold season.
351
Much interesting botanical work is yearly carried on in Hong Kong. Mr. Ford, the Superintendent, has shown that the total number of plants, exclusive of mosses, lichens, sea-weeds and fungi, indigenous to Hong Kong, is 1,397, probably more than are indigenous to the whole of the British Isles. Plants and seeds are regularly interchanged with other botanical institutions, and the number of plants which are successfully introduced into the Colony by this means is constantly increasing. It is hoped that before long an experimental economic garden will be established in the New Territory for the purpose of intro- ducing and distributing amongst the natives new plants of economic value.
The hilly character of the Island and its comparative absence of fertilising soil has prevented agriculture from becoming an active source of industry in Hong Kong. The acreage of cul- tivated land in the Island is a little over 400 acres only: The old dependency of British Kowloon, which is chiefly composed of level ground, contains almost the same amount of cultivated land. This, however, tends to diminish as buildings extend. The only part of the Colony where agricultural industries can be expected to thrive is the New Territory, which, though inter- sected by extensive ranges of barren hills, contains valleys where rice and sugar and other crops are grown with success. acreage of cultivated land in the New Territory (including the islands) is not far short of 100,000, but much of this contains exceedingly poor soil and consists of minute holdings belonging to the poorest class of peasants. The Government has taken steps to introduce some better qualities of sugar-cane into the New Territory. Some attempts have been made to grow the mulberry but without success.
(E.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The
The available amount of building land in Hong Kong, except in the New Territory, is so limited that it has for many years commanded a very high price, and land premia and Crown rents form a considerable portion of the Colonial Revenue. Land in
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