11. The following is a return of the trees planted since 1873, when I assumed office:
China Firs, 55,849 Bombax, 2,330 Moreton Bay Chestnuts, 1,050 Banyans and India-rubbers, 3,039 Casuarinas, 1,087 Australian Gums, 500 Miscellaneous, 1,200 Bamboos, 11,400 Total, 76,455 Average number planted per annum, 15,29012. However imposing this array of figures may look upon paper, the result is by no means telling on the ground itself, and it is somewhat disheartening to think that after all, the entire seventy-six thousand trees have only sufficed to dot here and there a few streets and suburban roads, a ravi... incipient forest to be seen on the mountain slopes overlooking the harbour, and which, from the contr...uit, and which I think the owner would part with not very unwillingly, as he does not appear ever to have turned them to much account. I assess their value at $762.75, and would advise their being re-entered by the Crown. I am fain to recommend this course only after a fruitless search for suitable nursery sites elsewhere.
21. In addition to the outlay in its acquisition, the cost of draining and preparing the nursery, and purchasing seed and materials, will be $1,299, making a total prime cost of $2,001.75, while the succeeding yearly expenditure in labour and material will not exceed $1,610.00, a figure sufficiently moderate. I trust, to recommend the project to His Excellency the Governor's favourable consideration.
22. If not inconsistent with future Gaol Regulations, it might be possible to reduce the estimate by employing long-sentenced convicts, or those whose term of punishment has already passed from the punitive to the reformatory stage, to till the nursery, dig holes on the hill side and to carry trees, in which case item 4 and half of 6 in the appended Estimate might be struck out and the prime cost brought down to $650 as shown in the Estimate, reduced to $1,436.75, while at the same time the yearly outlay might, by means of the same assistance, be reduced.
23. During the first two years, the places to be planted out would be sufficiently close in to town to allow of convict labour, if available, being employed with safety, and I think it will be time enough continuing the work with hired coolies. Independently, however, of the class of labour to be used, it is my duty to consider the advisability of planting one or two of Victoria Peak, and to cover but sparsely the small, isolated and insignificant patches when the plantation sites shall have receded to greater distances to consider the advisability of their greenness and luxuriance, serve, like oases in the desert, only to remind one the more painfully of the glaring bareness of the surrounding hills.
13. I have made with deep interest an examination of the waste lands of this Colony capable of being wooded, and which are unfit for any better use. Freely excluding paddy-fields, meadows, and gardens of Kowloon, I would propose to make this tree enter largely into the varieties to be planted in the future.
24. With reference to His Excellency the Governor's recommendation that the cocoanut palm should be more widely cultivated in this Colony where it thrives so well especially in the grounds cultivable for food or other productive purposes, as also foreshores, tidal swamps and places too rocky, or otherwise unable to support vegetable life, I find the sites available for tree planting comprise about ten thousand acres.
14. Looking to the exposure of most of these sites to the force of the North-East monsoon, especially to the action of typhoons, it would be necessary to plant the young trees somewhat thick, from five to seven cents a piece, and we might begin by purchasing and planting five thousand Cocoanuts sprouted in the husk for the purposes of seed may be had in large quantities from Manila so as to enable them to shelter one another; not less than four should be planted to every hundred square feet, or in other words 1,740 trees to the acre.
15. But, although feasible, it may perhaps be too much to aspire to ten thousand acres of woodland, and if our planting operations were continued at their present tortoise pace, viz., at the rate of 15,000 trees a year, it would take us eleven hundred years to complete the job.
25. It is the opinion of competent professional persons, that by a judicious selection of hardy classes of plants to suit the peculiar conditions of different localities in regard to soil, moisture, shelter from prevailing winds, temperature, and altitude above sea level, there will be no difficulty in forming forests of many varieties of trees.
16. Before proceeding further, I should explain that one of the reasons why planting has been hitherto conducted upon such a sorry scale in this Colony, is to be found in the smallness of the amount of Government tree nursery at Sokonpò, which will not hold more than fifteen thousand seedlings, while in respect of climate, its capabilities may be best judged by the fact that firs and cocoanut palms, the typical trees of countries so widely differing as Norway and the Sahara, are here to be seen flourishing side by side.
26. It is unnecessary to descant upon the benefits which the realization of this project of increased tree-planting promises to the Colony.
17. A second though subordinate reason is the inadequacy of the present staff. If our operations are increased, it will not however be necessary to add very largely to the number of permanent foresters; journeymen coolies can be taken on and dismissed as occasion may require; the cost of these and six additional Foresters is given in the Estimate appended.
18. I had at one time feared that the difficulty of getting enough seeds might prevent our sowing as many as half a million each season, but the result of enquiries on this point is satisfactory. Taking it at a prudently low estimate, I find the island and neighbouring islets will yield enough fir cones alone for that number of plants, while my correspondents at Amoy and Foochow advise me that fir cones are also procurable in those places.
19. To turn out as many as five hundred thousand trees every spring, a nursery containing 12 to 15 acres would be required, also the annual services of sixty coolies for one month to collect seeds, as well as sixty coolies for two months to dig holes, to wrap and bind the plants with straw, and to convey them from the nursery to their destinations.
20. Having as far back as the administration of Sir HERCULES ROBINSON disposed of all farm lands within easy distance of the City, the Government unfortunately does not now possess any ground available for a nursery, and for this purpose, it would be necessary to have recourse to a Government resumption of private land. There are some sufficiently large paddy fields at Sokonpo, the property of Mr. GEORGE DUDDELL, and registered in the Land Office as Farm Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 5, which would suit us.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
Sir,
ESTIMATE OF COST OF PLANTING HALF-A-MILLION OF TREES PER ANNUM.
The Honourable Cecil C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Note.-If convict labour be used, item 4 may be omitted, and item 6 brought down to one-half.
555
11. The following is a return of the trees planted since 1873, when I assumed office:
China Firs,
Bombax,
Moreton Bay Chestnuts,
Banyans and India-rubbers, Casuarinas,
Australian Gums,
Miscellaneous,.
Bamboos,
Total,.........
Average number planted per annum,
55,849
2,330
1,050
3,039
1,087
500 1,200
11,400
76,455
15,290
12. However imposing this array of figures may look upon paper, the result is by no means telling on the ground itself, and it is somewhat disheartening to think that after all, the entire seven six thousand trees have only sufficed to dot here and there a few streets and suburban roads, a ravi
incipient forest to be seen on the mountain slopes overlooking the harbour, and which, from the contr
uit, and which I think the owner would part with not very unwillingly, as he does not appear ever to have turned them to much account. I assess their value at $762.75, and would advise their being re-entered by the Crown. I am fain to recommend this course only after a fruitless search for suitable
nursery sites elsewere.
21. In addition to the outlay in its acquisition, the cost of draining and preparing the nursery, and archasing seed and materials, will be $1,299, making a total prime cost of $2,001.75, while the succeeding yearly expenditure in labour and material will not exceed $1,610.00, a figure sufficiently moderate. I trust, to recommend the project to His Excellency the Governor's favourable consideration. 22. If not inconsistent with future Gaol Regulations, it might be possible to reduce the estimate by employing long-sentenced convicts, or those whose term of punishment has already passed from the cute to the reformatory stage, to till the nursery, dig holes on the hill side and to carry trees, in which case item 4 and half of 6 in the appended Estimate might be struck out and the prime cost
brought down to $650 as shewn in the Estimate. reduced to $1,436.75, while at the same time the yearly outlay might, by means of the same assistance,
to
23. During the first two years, the places to be planted out would be sufficiently close in to town allow of convict labour, if available, being employed with safety, and I think it will be time enough continuing the work with hired coolies. Independently, however, of the class of labour to be used, it is
officers. my
or two of Victoria Peak, and to cover but sparsely the small, isolated and insignificant patches when the plantation sites shall have receded to greater distances to consider the advisability of of their greenness and luxuriance, serve, like oases in the desert, only to remind one the more painful of great importance that the tree nursery itself should be in some district immediately suburban so as
of the glaring bareness of the surrounding hills.
13. I have made with deep interest an examination of the waste lands of this Colony capable to ensure its efficient supervision by myself and being wooded, and which are unfit for any better use. Freely excluding paddy-fields, meadows, should he more widely cultivated in this Colony where it thrives so well especially in the grounds 24. With reference to His Excellency the Governor's recommendation that the cocoanut palm all ground cultivable for food or other productive purposes, as also foreshores, tidal swamps and s places too rocky, or otherwise unable to support vegetable life, I find the sites available for tre comprise about ten thousand acres.
and gardens of Kowloon, I would propose to inake this tree enter largely into the varieties to he None better can be selected for the sea shores or other salt low lying places of the Island and Kowloon, and its powers of resistance to typhoons is no small qualification in its favour.
planted in the future.
at
especially to the action of typhoons, it would be necessary to plant the young trees somewhat thick from five to seven cents a piece, and we might begin by purchasing and planting five thousand 14. Looking to the exposure of most of these sites to the force of the North-East monsoon, Cocoanuts sprouted in the husk for the purposes of seed may be had in large quantities from Manila so as to enable them to shelter one another; not less than four should be planted to every hund during the forthcoming year. The first palm-groves might be appropriately planted in the sandy square feet, or in other words 1,740 trees to the acre. over seventeen million frees, and if our planting operations were continued at their present tortoise spec the Hyde Park of Hongkong and bus been for the last quarter of a century the only evening For ten thousand acres then, we would reque open grounds near the Bowrington Canal and in the Bowrington Compound. That neighbourhood viz., at the rate of 15,000 trees a year, it would take us eleven hundred years to complete the job.
health drive which the European Community has boasted of, owing however to the salt and sandy remains to this day unattractive and shadeless.
15. But, although feasible, it may perhaps be too much to aspire to ten thousand acres of wood nature of the soil it has defied whatever attempts may have been made to cultivate it, and it
I will, therefore, reduce my figures at once to five thousand acres, an area one third of which may i planted during the term of His Excellency's Administration without entailing any very serious outbr
25. It is the opinion of competent professional persons, that by a judicious selection of hardy
or throwing upon the Department over which I have the honour to preside any additional work classes of plants to suit the peculiar conditions of different localities in regard to soil, moisture, shelter
which it may not grapple with if assisted, in the proper seasons, by hired or convict labour.
from prevailing winds, temperature, and altitude above sea level, there will be no difficulty in Of the productiveness of the ground under a moderate
16. Before proceeding further, I should explain that one of the reasons why planting has bee forming forests of many varieties of trees.
hitherto conducted upon such a sorry scale in this Colony, is to be found in the smallness of the amount of fertilization and tillage, we already possess ample proof in the vegetation we have reared, Government tree nursery at Sokonpò, which will not hold more than fifteen thousand seedling while in respect of climate, its capabilities may be best judged by the fact that firs and cocoanut palms, the and which is, therefore, unable to accommodate one year's sowing and the preceding year's trees at on typical trees of countries so widely differing as Norway and the Sahara, are here to be seen flourishing
and the same time. This will be the more readily understood, when it is borne in mind that the process of transplanting, partly dependent on the weather, extends sometimes over two months, a
ground
side by side.
26. It is unnecessary to descant upon the benefits which the realization of this project of increased
tree-planting promises to
for instance, no seeds were gathered or sown by Mr. FORD, the gardener, in 1876, and there wil arborescent vegetation, and His Excellency will not have failed, in the short time he has been among available in which to sow the seeds that should be already germinating in February. For this reas Colony is in a great measure due to the little that has already been done in clothing the granite with
therefore, be no trees to plant next spring, a circunstance sufficiently mortifying.
17. A second though subordinate reason is the inadequacy of the present staff. are increased, it will not however be necessary to add very largely to the number of permanes If our operation foresters, journeymen coolies can be taken on and dismissed as occasion may require; the cost of thes and six additional Foresters is given in the Estimate appended.
18. I had at one time feared that the difficulty of getting enough seeds might prevent our sowing as many as half a million each season, but the result of enquiries on this point is satisfactory. Taka at a prudently low estimate, I find the island and neighbouring islets will yield enough fir cones alone for that number of plants, while my correspondents at Amoy and Foochow advise me that fir coms, are also procurable in those places. From Canton, I have not yet sufficiently reliable data to say whether seeds are to be easily had there, but I see no reason why they should not be. At all events all doubt as to the sufficiency of seeds is now dispelled.
19. To turn out as many as five hundred thousand trees every spring, a nursery containing or 15 acres would be required, also the annual services of sixty coolies for one month to collect seet, as well as sixty coolies for two months to dig holes, to wrap and bind the plants with straw, and te convey them from the nursery to their destinations. In addition to this, the services of six permanen Foresters to act under the Head Forester as already stated would be necessary to keep the nursery in order. 20. Having as far back as the administration of Sir HERCULES ROBINSON disposed of all farm lauds within easy distance of the City, the Government unfortunately does not now possess any ground available for a nursery, and for this purpose, it would be necessary to have recourse to a Government resumption of private land. There are some sufficiently large paddy fields at Sokonpo, the property of Mr. GEORGE DUDDELL, and registered in the Land Office as Farm Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 5, which would
us, to notice how general and fervent is the hope that the Government will not slacken its exertions in the good work.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
Sir,
ESTIMATE OF COST OF PLANTING HALF-A-MILLION OF TREES FER ANNUM.
The Honourable Cecí. C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Estimate of Prime Cost.
1. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 1,
2. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 2,
3. Resumption of Farm Lot No. 5,
4. Draining and preparing ground,
5. Fencing waste ground at Bowrington,
6. Manuring and preparing same,.
7. Purchase of 5,000 Cocoanuts, at 7 cents,
Total Prime Cost,.........
brought down to one-half, reducing the total to
8. Contingencies,
Note.-If convict labour be used, item 4 may be omitted, and item 6
$209.40
196.20
306.15
500.00
150.00
250.00
350.00
100.00
..$2,061.75
$1,436.75
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