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# MEMORANDUM ON MR. FORD'S APPOINTMENT TO The Hongkong Botanic Garden,
1 Mr. CHARLES FORD was appointed Superintendent of the Government Gardens at Hongkong by the EARL OF KIMBERLEY on the recommendation of Sir JOSEPH HOOKER, (C. O. Letter, March 15th, 1871).
2. It was stipulated on behalf of Lord KIMBERLEY that the person recommended should be both a botanist and a practical gardener with experience in ornamental planting.
3. A salary of £250, rising by annual £10 increments to a maximum of £300, with a residence as sanctioned by Lord KIMBERLEY.
4. In his report for 1871, Sir JOSEPH HOOKER records the appointment as follows:----
"A Superintendent has been sent to the Hongkong Gardens, which have a sphere of great usefulness before them in introducing a multitude of valuable vegetable products, which are described by travellers in China, but which are totally unknown in Europe."
5. Hongkong may be described as the key of the botanical position as regards the Chinese Empire. It is not essential to particularise the exact mode in which an active Superintendent would develop the usefulness of the Botanic Garden, but it cannot be doubted that it might be made, with zeal and determination, what Sir JOSEPH HOOKER contemplated it would become, a unique establishment for distributing to the other parts of the empire the economic and scientifically interesting vegetable productions of China.
6. Unfortunately, from the first Mr. FORD has not been encouraged to take more than a local view of his duties, nor has he apparently initiated any scheme of wider activity himself. These duties only comprise the charge of the Botanic Garden, (13 acres, Mr. PRICE'S letter, 8th October, 1877), and the planting of the roads and the hills about the town.
7. Mr. FORD's report for the year 1872 was printed and distributed. This was not, however, done in the case of his subsequent reports, which is so far a matter of regret that it arrests all interest in the work of the Botanic Garden external to the Colony, and removes all stimulus to its development as more than simply a local institution.
8. From a manuscript copy of Mr. FORD's report for 1876, there is every reason to believe that Mr. FORD has managed his work within the limits mentioned above, in a zealous and efficient manner. It is, however, to be regretted that the labelling of the trees, &c., in the garden has been abandoned as impracticable.
9. Mr. PRICE's views, as expressed in his letter of 8th October, 1877, go still further in a retrograde direction. He speaks of the Colony as not aiming "at more than an attractive Public Garden as a pleasure resort for the people." This clearly deals a final blow to the idea of a Botanic Garden in any sense, and especially in that wider one contemplated by Sir JOSEPH HOOKER.
10. It is, of course, for the Home and Colonial Governments to decide what the status of the Botanic Garden shall be in the future. It seems, however, a matter of regret that the attempt to dismiss Mr. FORD should have been made during his absence and that a radical change in the character of the establishment should be put forward by the Surveyor General as a mere matter of a saving of £100 a year.
11. It would be far more desirable to recur to the original plan and encourage Mr. FORD to enlarge the scope of his activity; and endeavour to make his establishment the channel of communication for all matters of botanical interest connected with China. Kew is not without correspondents who have done good service in this matter, and from Dr. HANCE of Whampoa and Mr. Ross of Newchwang, Mr. FORD would certainly find every kind of encouragement. Part of his duties should, as in the case of other Botanic Gardens, be to make occasional journeys for the purpose of collecting.
Approved,
J. D. HOOKER. February 1st, 1878.
# THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO MR. FORD.
(Copy.)
DOWNING STREET,
15th February, 1878.
SIR—I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acquaint you that he has recently had before him the question of retaining you in your employment under the Government of Hongkong, the Governor having suggested certain changes in connection with the management of the Gardens, which would have materially altered the status of the Superintendent and probably have involved your retirement.
232
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MEMORANDUM ON MR. FORD'S APPOINTMENT TO The Hongkong Botanic Garden,
1 Mr. CHARLES FORD was appointed Superintendent of the Government Gardens at Hongkong the EARL OF KIMBERLEY on the recommendation of Sir JosEPH HOOKER, (C. O. Letter, March 15th, (871).
2. It was stipulated on behalf of Lord KIMBERLEY that the person recommended should be both botanist and a practical gardener with experience in ornamental planting.
3. A salary of £250, rising by annual £10 increments to a maximum of £300, with a residence as sanctioned by Lord KIMBERLEY.
4. In his report for 1871, Sir Josern HOOKER records the appointment as follows :----
"A Superintendent has been sent to the Hongkong Gardens, which have a sphere of great "usefulness before them in introducing a multitude of valuable vegetable products, which
are described by travellers in China, but which are totally unknown in Europe."
(*
5. Hongkong may be described as the key of the botanical position as regards the Chinese Empire. t is not essential to particularise the exact mode in which an active Superintendent would develope be usefulness of the Botanic Garden, but it cannot be doubted that it might be made, with zeal and etermination, what Sir JOSEPH HOOKER contemplated it would become, a unique establishment for tributing to the other parts of the empire the economic and scientifically interesting vegetable Productions of China.
6. Unfortunately from the first Mr. FoRD has not been encouraged to take more than a local view This duties, nor has he apparently initiated any scheme of wider activity himself. These duties only omprise the charge of the Botanic Garden, (13 acres, Mr. PRICE'S letter, 8th October, 1877), and the lanting of the roads and the hills about the town.
7. Mr. FoRn's report for the year 1872 was printed and distributed. This was not however done a the case of his subsequent reports which is so far a matter of regret that it arrests all interest in the rk of the Botanic Garden external to the Colony, and removes all stimulus to its development as a more than simply local institution.
8. From a manuscript copy of Mr. Foud's report for 1876 there is every reason to believe that Mr. Tean has managed his work-within the limits mentioned above, in a zealous and efficient manner. It 3, however, to be regretted that the labelling of the trees, &c., in the garden has been abandoned as
practicable.
9. Mr. PRICE's views as expressed in his letter of 8th October, 1877, go still further in a retrograde direction. He speaks of the Colony as not aiming "at more than an attractive Public Garden as a pleasure resort for the people." This clearly deals a final blow to the idea of a Botanic Garden in any
se, and especially in that wider one contemplated by Sir JOSEPH HOOKER,
10. It is of course for the Home and Colonial Governments to decide what the status of the Botanic Garden shall be in the future. It seems, however, a matter of regret that the attempt to dismiss Mr. FORD should have been made during his absence and that a radical change in the character of the establishment should be put forward by the Surveyor General as a mere matter of a saving of £100 a year.
11. It would be far more desirable to recur to the original plan and encourage Mr. FoRd to en- darge the scope of his activity; and endeavour to make his establishment the channel of communication for all matters of botanical interest connected with China. Kew is not without correspondents who have done good service in this matter, and from Dr. HANCE of Whampoa and Mr. Ross of Newchwang M. FORD would certainly find every kind of encouragement. Part of his duties should, as in the case
f other Botanic Gardens, be to make occasional journeys for the purpose of collecting.
Approved,
J. D. HOOKER. February 1st, 1878.
THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO MR. FORD.
(Copy.)
DOWNING STREET,
15th February, 1878.
SIR-I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acquaint you that he has recently had before him the question of retaining you in your employment under the Government of Hongkong, the Governor having suggested certain changes in connection with the management of the Gardens, which would have materially altered the status of the Superintendent and probably have involved your
retirement.
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