578
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31ST JULY, 1880.
trees when in the nurseries were not thinned as they should have been; and when they were planted they were pulled out of the ground, thus greatly injuring their roots, instead of being carefully lifted; the roots were not properly protected from sun and weather, consequently, before reaching their distant destinations the plants had frequently greatly suffered from lack of moisture in their tissues, which, after planting, the lacerated roots were unable to repair. The plants, from overcrowding in the nurseries, were also weakened in the parts proceeding from the plumule, so that both radicle and plumule being so much damaged, the vitality of the plant was reduced to its lowest ebb. also were not filled with soil, but were receptacles for a superabundance of water during every shower, When planting, the holes which kept the roots in a miniature swamp, at a time when the plants, with their damaged organs, were not in condition to assimilate so much moisture. The trees were also planted too deep; in many cases I found the small stems were covered with soil to a depth of six inches.
14. Had experience and intelligence, such as could only have been obtained by careful observation and study of the science of plant life, and a knowledge of expedients for the greatest economy of labour, been continually brought to bear on the direction of the work, we should not now have to record the sad result of the year's work.
15. As bearing upon the foregoing remarks, it might be well to call to mind a few physiological facts upon which vegetable life depends.
16. In many seeds the vital principle is so strong that, to scatter them upon the soil, and to cover them slightly with earth, is sufficient to insure their rapid germination; but in others, the powers of growth will only manifest themselves under more favourable conditions; it is therefore necessary to consider well upon what the circumstances most suitable to germination depend. In dealing with many varieties of seeds, the greatest care in applying the agencies of moisture, shade, soil, covering, &c., is essential. Different kinds of seeds require different kinds of treatment to meet their varied demands; and not only this during the process of germination, but between the time of collecting the seeds and committing them to their seed-beds, boxes, pots, or whatever may be the situation demanded. The nature of the seed, whether oily, resinous, hard, soft, having a thick or thin testa, &c.; the known duration of retaining vitality under ordinary circumstances and under altered and varying conditions, must all be taken into account, weighed and considered from manifold views; all this requiring the time and skill of an expert to deal successfully with.
17. The extreme points of roots are exceedingly delicate, and are injured by trifling causes; moreover, since all newly-formed vegetable matter is extremely hygrometrical, they have the power of absorbing, with rapidity, any fluid or gaseous matter that may be presented to them. In roots of ordinary exogens, the tip or spargelet consists of very loose, tender cellular tissue, resting upon a blunt cone of woody matter, composed principally of woody tubes, and connected with the albumen of the stem. It is the opinion of most vegetable physiologists that the absorbing or feeding powers are conducted principally at the points, and that the general surface of the root possesses little or no feeding power. It is almost entirely through their action that the enormous waste of fluid, which takes place in plants by perspiration, is made good; hence their importance to plants, and the danger of destroying them becomes manifest.
18. The functions of respiration, perspiration, and digestion, which are the particular offices of leaves, are absolutely necessary to the health of a tree, its healthfulness being in proportion to the degree in which these functions are performed, hence the importance of preserving those in a healthy condition is seen.
19. An excellent authority on forest management says:--"How necessary it is that foresters should become thoroughly acquainted with the laws that govern the healthy development of trees before they have the management of rearing them."
III.--DEDUCTIONS ARRIVED AT FROM EXPERIENCE IN DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
20. The consideration of the foregoing, and much more which, if recapitulated, would render this report too prolix, confirms me in the belief that it is most important that the Botanical and Forest management should be in charge of one and the same person, and that the Superintendent of the Gardens; as botanical, arboricultural and horticultural works are all so intimately connected, that in a small Colony like ours the three branches of one profession cannot be separate without detriment to one and all. The Superintendent has so many things to deal with in the three branches, that he should be as unfettered as possible by official routine and circumlocution, such as existed when the gardens were a sub-department of the Survey Department, when delays occurred in dealing with subjects requiring prompt attention, which were fatal to the business in hand. As one instance, I may mention the delay in dealing with the plants of Pithecolobium Saman last year, which ended in disastrous results. This plant was introduced, through Kew Gardens, from South America, and was successfully treated in our nursery, 1300 plants being reared, but the Survey Department could not be induced to move in the matter of transferring them to the forest establishment until after more than three months after I had reported them as requiring prompt attention. The importance of these things seems to be unappreciated by the officials of the Survey Department, which is, perhaps, not much to be wondered at, seeing that the knowledge of such things does not form part of their professional training. As one more instance of that department's inability to cope with this department's work, I may mention that during my absence in England one hundred and eighty species of plants were sent to the gardens, as I reported and furnished the names of to the Acting Surveyor General on the 28th August, 1878. Some of these plants, which had been introduced from England and Germany, and of which we had only single plants of many species, I found had been removed in pots to the Cemetery, and although several times asked for their return, so that we could propagate them and thus preserve the species, I offering to let them have, after propagation, plants in return, my applications were never replied to, nor have we to this day received the plants.
21. Mr. MARIES, a traveller from the Messrs. VEITCH's Royal Exotic Nursery, London, brought for presentation to the gardens a valuable collection of plants, which, on a second visit to the Colony, he found in a dying or already dead condition, although, I heard plants of the same kinds presented to private individuals here were flourishing. Mr. VEITCH, when I saw him in London, reported this to me. Foreseeing, before I went home, that valuable consignments of plants could not be successfully well cared for, I requested my correspondents not to furnish the plants, &c., of my lists of desiderata until my return.
22. Simultaneously with its own investigations, this department, by correspondence, can assist the forest work, by introducing rare and valuable trees; and also in rearing such tender kinds as require more careful treatment than they could receive in the tree nurseries; and also in applying such information and experience as by correspondence, &c., are being continually supplied. The different operations, also, could be brought into a better system and state of organisation, by the staffs, &c., being able to reciprocate, if the whole of the two establishments were under one practical and professional direction.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES FORD, Superintendent Botanical Gardens.
No. 182.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Mr. C. V. CREAGH has obtained twelve months' leave of absence from the 24th instant. The following Acting Appointments have been made by His Excellency the Governor:
Mr. J. J. FRANCIS to be Acting Police Magistrate.
Mr. G. HORSPOOL to be Acting Captain Superintendent of Police.
Mr. T. GREY to be Acting Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Inspector CRADOCK to be Acting Chief Inspector.
Mr. J. P. McEUEN to be Acting Superintendent of Fire Brigade.
Mr. J. PARKER to be Acting Assistant Superintendent of Fire Brigade.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 26th July, 1880.
No. 183.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Pending instructions from the Earl of KIMBERLEY, His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to make the following temporary and provisional appointments, under "The Merchant Shipping Ordinance":-
Mr. R. H. SLEEMAN, R.N., Acting Engineer Surveyor.
Messrs. THOMSETT and McEUEN, R.N., Acting Shipwright Engineers.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 29th July, 1880.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
578
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31ST JULY, 1880.
trees when in the nurseries were not thinned as they should have been; and when they were planted they were pulled out of the ground, thus greatly injuring their roots, instead of being carefully lifted; the roots were not properly protected from sun and weather, consequently, before reaching their distant destinations the plants had frequently greatly suffered from lack of moisture in their tissues, which, after planting, the lacerated roots were unable to repair. The plants, from overcrowding in the nurseries, were also weakened in the parts proceeding from the plunule, so that both radicle and plumule being so much damaged, the vitality of the plant was reduced to its lowest ebb. also were not filled with soil, but were receptacles for a superabundance of water during every shower, When planting, the holes which kept the roots in a miniature swamp, at a time when the plants, with their damaged organs, were not in condition to assimilate so much moisture. The trees were also planted too deep; in I found the small stems were covered with soil to a depth of six inches.
many cases
14. Had experience and intelligence, such as could only have been obtained by careful observation and study of the science of plant life, and a knowledge of expedients for the greatest economy of labour, Teen continually brought to bear on the direction of the work, we should not now have to record the sad result of the year's work.
15. As bearing upon the foregoing remarks, it might be well to call to mind a few physiological facts upon which vegetable life depends.
16. In many seeds the vital principle is so strong that, to scatter them upon the soil, and to cover them slightly with earth, is sufficient to insure their rapid germination; but in others, the powers of growth will only manifest themselves under more favourable conditions; it is therefore necessary to consider well upon what the circumstances most suitable to germination depend. In dealing with many varieties of seeds, the greatest care in applying the agencies of moisture, shade, soil, covering, &c., is essential. Different kinds of seeds require different kinds of treatment to meet their varied demands; and not only this during the process of germination, but between the time of collecting the seeds and committing rhem to their seed-beds, boxes, pots, or whatever may be the situation demanded. The nature of the seed, whether oily, resinous, hard, soft, having a thick or thin testa, &c.; the known duration of retaining vitality under ordinary circumstances and under altered and varying conditions, must all be taken into account, weighed and considered from manifold views; all this requiring the time and skill of an expert to deal successfully with.
17. The extreme points of roots are exceedingly delicate, and are injured by trifling causes; moreover, since all newly-formed vegetable matter is extremely hygrometrical, they have the power of absorbing, with rapidity, any fluid or gaseous matter that may be presented to them. In roots of ordinary exogens, the tip or spargelet consists of very loose, tender cellular tissue, resting upon a blunt cone of woody matter, composed principally of woody tubes, and connected with the albumen of The stem. It is the opinion of most vegetable physiologists that the absorbing or feeding powers are onducted principally at the points, and that the general surface of the root possesses little or no feeding power. It is almost entirely through their action that the enormous waste of fluid, which takes place in plants by perspiration, is made good; hence their importance to plants, and the danger got destroying them becomes manifest.
18. The functions of respiration, perspiration, and digestion, which are the particular offices of leaves, are absolutely necessary to the health of a tree, its healthfulness being in proportion to the degree in which these functions are performed, hence the importance of preserving those in a healthy
ondition is seen.
19. An excellent authority on forest management says:--"How necessary it is that foresters Should become throughly acquainted with the laws that govern the healthy development of trees before they have the management of rearing them."
III.--DEDUCTIONS ARRIVED AT FROM EXPERIENCE IN DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT. 20.-The consideration of the foregoing, and much more which, if recapitulated, would render this report too prolix, confirms me in the belief that it is most important that the Botanical and Forest management should be in charge of one and the same person, and that the Superintendent of he Gardens; as botanical, arboricultural and horticultural works are all so intimately connected, that n a small Colony like ours the three branches of one profession cannot be separate without detriment to one and all. The Superintendent has so many things to deal with in the three branches, that he Should be as unfettered as possible by official routine and circumlocution, such as existed when the gardens were a sub-department of the Survey Department, when delays occurred in dealing with ubjects requiring prompt attention, which were fatal to the business in hand. As one instance, I ay mention the delay in dealing with the plants of Pithecolobium Saman last year, which ended in lisastrous results. This plant was introduced, through Kew Gardens, from South America, and vas successfully treated in our nursery, 1300 plants being reared, but the Survey Department could ot be induced to move in the matter of transferring them to the forest establishment until after more han three months after I had reported them as requiring prompt attention. hings seems to be unappreciated by the officials of the Survey Department, which is, perhaps, nor The importance of these nuch to be wondered at, seeing that the knowledge of such things does not form part of their profes- ional training. As one more instance of that department's inability to cope with this department's
may mention that during my absence in England one hundred and eighty species of plants re lot to the gardens, as I reported and furnished the names of to the Acting Surveyor General on The 28th August, 1878. Some of these plants, which had been introduced from England and German, and of which we had only single plants of many species, I found had been removed in pots to the Cemetery, and although several times asked for their return, so that we could propagate them and thus preserve the species, I offering to let them have, alter propagation, plants in return. iny applications were never replied to, nor have we to this day received the plants.
21. Mr. MARIES, a traveller from the Messrs. VEITCHs' Royal Exotic Nursery, London, brought for presentation to the gardens a valuable collection of plants, which, on a second visit to the Colony. he found in a dying or already dead condition, although, I heard plants of the same kinds presented to private individuals here were flourishing. Mr. VEITCH, when I saw him in London, reported this to me. Foreseeing, before I went home, that valuable consignments of plants could not be successfully well cared for, I requested my correspondents not to furnish the plants, &c., of my lists of desiderata until my return.
22. Simultaneously with its own investigations, this department, by correspondence, can assist the forest work, by introducing rare and valuable trees; and also in rearing such tender kinds as require more careful treatment than they could receive in the tree nurseries; and also in applying such infor- mation and experience as by correspondence, &c., are being continually supplied. The different opera- tions, also, could be brought into a better system and state of organisation, by the staffs, &c., being able to reciprocate, if the whole of the two establishments were under one practical and professional
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
direction.
The Honourable THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
No. 182.
Je..
536
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES FORD, Superintendent Botanical Gardens.
fr.,
Fr
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Mr. C. V. CREAGH has obtained twelve months' leave of absence from the 24th instant. The following Acting Appointments have been made by His Excellency the Governor
Mr. J. J. FRANCISs to be Acting Police Magistrate.
Mr. G. HORSPOOL to be Acting Captain Superintendent of Police. Mr. T. GREY to be Acting Deputy Superintendent of Police. Inspector CRADOCK to be Acting Chief Inspector.
Mr. J. P. McEUEN to be Acting Superintendent of Fire Brigade.
Mr. J. PARKER to be Acting Assistant Superintendent of Fire Brigade.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 26th July, 1880.
No. 183.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Pending instructions from the Earl of KIMBERLEY, His Excellency the Governor has been pleaserl to make the following temporary and provisional appointments, under "The Merchant Shipping Ordinance":-
Mr. R. H. SLEEMAN, R.N.. Acting Engineer Surveyor.
Messrs. THOMSETT and McECEN, R.N., Acting Shipwright Engineers.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Ilongkong, 29th July, 1880.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
W
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