352
and surroundings and the formal arrangement of this popular and beautiful portion of the Gardens. After the removal of the trees, the space they occupied was laid out in beds, the poor soil from which was replaced with better material. These beds were partially planted with roses at the time, and the planting was completed during the past few months. The work of converting the remaining, and larger portion of the ground on the eastern side of the Fountain has been resumed lately, and it will be completed very soon.
The arrangement adopted for the improvement of the terrace is designed for two purposes. One is to replace the large trees with plants of a more suitable nature for the character of the place. The other object is to provide a suitable place for concentrating the collection of roses. The roses have hitherto been cultivated in various scattered parts of the Gardens, a method resulting in inconvenience and loss of time in management, as well as exposing the flowers to the cupidity of visitors and professional thieves.
For some years flowers in general and roses in particular have received careful and regular attention from flower stealers, who have learnt their business so well that they manage to elude the vigilance both of the watchman, and detectives who have been specially detached for this service. These thieves find a good market in the town for cut flowers, and the very numerous entrances (there are nine) to the gardens, and the low walls which surround the grounds greatly facilitate the ingress and egress without detection of thieves. It is very desirable that something should be done to check flower stealing, but at present there does not seem to be much prospect of the possibility of going much further than the concentration of the roses in one place where they can be more readily seen.
10. On the top of the bank at the north side of the terrace a Collection of Creepers has been planted, and an Iron and Wire Trellis 300 feet long and four feet high has been placed for their support.
11. GREVILLEA AVENUE.--The western end of this walk was a cul-de-sac which visitors, instead of retracing their steps to escape from when they reached its end, got out of by climbing up the grass bank between it and the small walk above; by this the grass was continually worn off. For the convenience of visitors, and the improvement of the end of the avenue, a flight of steps has been made up the bank, and some rock work on each side has been constructed and planted with ornamental foliage plants, which will grow in the shady situation.
12. Epiphytal Orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) have been placed on the trunks of the Grevillea (Silky-Oak) trees which compose the avenue. The suitability of the climate for the cultivation of Phalaenopsis has yet to be proved. So far the orchids, although they were only indifferent specimens of vigour when placed on the trees, seem to afford a promise of success, but the cold of winter, which is not yet over, is the severest trial they have to contend with.
13. THINNING AND REMOVAL OF TREES.--Trees and plants of value and beauty which were in danger of having their symmetrical development dangerously interfered with by neighbours which had already fulfilled the purposes for which they were originally planted, and which were afterwards occupying the places of interlopers, have been going through a course of ejection for several months. A couple of foresters have been employed to do this carefully. There are still of some kinds of trees far more individuals than there should be in the Gardens, which must gradually be withdrawn. Until this is done it will be impossible to provide suitably for and to introduce trees of new, beautiful, and interesting forms.
14. PALMS.--A very considerable augmentation of these has taken place. New species have been introduced from various parts of the world, which have raised the number of those in cultivation to one hundred and four. Most of them are planted in permanent positions, but there are others growing in pots and waiting for fit positions to be prepared for them. The limited ground available will not permit the collection to be very much extended, but when the roses are established in the new rosary, the plot at present occupied by the plants in the New Garden will be available for them.
15. This climate has been found suitable for all palms yet introduced with the exception of Maximiliana martiana and Stevensonia grandifolia, both of which have repeatedly succumbed to cold in the dry season. The former is a native of North Brazil and Guiana, and the latter of the Seychelle Islands. The inability of these two plants to bear with impunity the cold of this climate is interesting when we consider that other plants, including palms, from the same and from equally as hot regions exhibit no ill-effects from the cold.
16. CONIFERS. Not many additions have been made to these. Dacrydium elatum, a very beautiful and graceful conifer has been introduced from Penang, and promises to flourish in Hongkong. Before much is done in the increase of the collection, the ground for their reception must be extended, this, however, is possible when means are available. The Conifers being side by side with the Palms make a very pleasing and interesting assemblage, which arrests the attention of intelligent visitors and illustrates in a comprehensive space the interjunction of the regions in which these two most interesting, beautiful, and useful families of the vegetable kingdom luxuriate.
17. GLENEALY RAVINE.--This remains in a slovenly condition, but year after year leaves us in want of means to improve it. The shrubberies require re-arranging and re-planting. The grass lawns are also in very bad order, but it is useless doing anything with these until the string of people who daily walk across them to scoop up water from the nullah can be diverted. This, I trust, will be possible as soon as the necessity for the coolies to come in search of water is removed.
18. PLANT HOUSES.--The fern collection continues to improve and it shows the great advantage which the house constructed for its accommodation three years ago has been to it, not only in providing the more suitable conditions which were indispensable for successful cultivation, but also in exhibiting the beauties of the plants to greater advantage.
19. The plant house which was built two years ago for other classes of plants, especially foliage plants and orchids, has also been successful in the purpose for which it was designed. A number of orchids which had previously not been successfully cultivated have made better growth, and been preserved in a healthy and vigorous state in consequence of our being able to meet their requirements more completely by the facilities to regulate the shade, shelter, and moisture which the house affords. There is, however, room for great improvement in orchid cultivation, which can only be achieved by the closest and most constant study of the wants of the plants, and unceasing supervision and direction of the workmen in the application of all that plants require.
20. The old structure with a glass roof, the first one of any kind which the Gardens possessed, and which I had built 14 years ago, contains ornamental foliage plants, some orchids, and a few ferns which cannot be grown in this climate without protection from the cold and dry climate of the cool season. These plants it would be utterly impossible to grow without such protection. The house, however, in both size and design meets in a very imperfect manner the needs of the plants; it is in a rotten, tumble-down condition, but I am loath to appropriate much money for repairs to it.
21. This house has fulfilled a good purpose in proving that with such aid very interesting and lovely plants may be grown here, which otherwise it would be impossible to keep alive. Instead of repairing it I hope the Government will be able to grant a sum of money for the Erection of a Glass-house which will be more commodious, and which will be worthy of our justly famed Gardens and Colony. The house could be filled at once with plants, and it would be a source of the greatest pleasure and benefit to the public.
22. AVIARIES AND ANIMALS' PENS.--In the aviaries several birds have been missing, and others found dead. The assumption is that the mischief has been done by some animal, probably by cats wild or tame. I have not attempted to procure other birds to take the places of the missing ones, because, I hope during the year to be able to put up some new cages which will exclude cats from the larger birds, and rats from the smaller ones. When these cages are up, a few more birds will be obtained.
23. The posts and wire netting which enclose the deer and large birds are much decayed, as well as the little houses inside. All of this I hope likewise, during the year to put in better order, and to improve the general appearance of the pens.
24. ST. IGNATIUS' BEANS (Strychnos Ignatii, Berg.)--I am indebted for specimens of dried leaves and wood of this to Mr. CROW, the Government Analyst, who has exerted himself in obtaining them from the Philippine Islands in order to endeavour to clear up the botanical origin of this important drug. Mr. VIDAL, Inspector-General of Forests at Manila, however, has succeeded in procuring complete specimens necessary for the conclusive determination of the plant. A description and two plates have been inserted as an appendix in the "Revision de Plantas Vasculares Filipinas" which Mr. VIDAL published last year. Descriptions of the plant were given by LOUREIRO as far back as 1793, and by BLANCO in 1845, but no complete herbarium specimens seem to have been accessible until last year.
25. CHINESE STAR ANISE.--In my report for 1883 I mentioned that through the enterprise and kindness of Mr. H. Koppen, who was then Commissioner of Customs at Pakhoi, some very small seedlings of what was reputed to be the Chinese Star Anise plant had been obtained. These were very carefully nursed, and they had been watched and well cared for since that time. One of them has grown into a small tree 10 feet high, and in September last it rewarded us for the care bestowed on it by producing a few flowers, which were sufficient to enable the species to be ascertained. On reference to the works in the Gardens library I found that it was neither Illicium religiosum Sieb. et Zucc. nor I. anisatum, Linn. The former is the Japanese Star Anise and the latter is the plant which had been supposed to yield Chinese Star Anise. I submitted specimens to Kew Gardens for comparison with the dried plants stored in its magnificent herbarium, and with descriptions of species in the library there. Mr. THISTLETON DYER, the Director of the Gardens, in reply informs me that the specimen sent is referred to Illicium cambodiense of which Kew has specimens from Dr. PIERRE besides the latter's figure in "Flore Forestière de Cochin-Chine," and that it is nearly allied to I. Griffithii, H. f. and T., and I. majus, H. f. and T., two Indian species. This is an important additional step in this very interesting question, but the seedlings having been obtained through natives, the question of the source of Chinese Star Anise cannot be considered quite settled, as we have yet to prove that the plants which we have of Illicium cambodiense are identical with those which really furnish the Anise of commerce. This cannot be satisfactorily decided until the Anise plants are seen in the districts where they grow by a reliable European, or until our plants produce seeds, when the capsules and seeds can be compared with those in trade; if the two then prove to be identical we may feel pretty sure that the origin of Chinese Star Anise has been discovered. The few flowers which were produced last year were all ...
}
352
and surroundings and the formal arrangement of this popular and beautiful portion of the Gardens. After the removal of the trees, the space they occupied was laid out in beds, the poor soil from which was replaced with better material. These beds were partially planted with roses at the time, and the planting was completed during the past few months. The work of converting the remaining, and larger portion of the ground on the eastern side of the Fountain has been resumed lately, and it will The arrangement adopted for the improvement of the terrace is designed for be completed very soon. two purposes. One is to replace the large trees with plants of a more suitable nature for the character of the place. The other object is to provide a suitable place for concentrating the collection of roses. The roses have hitherto been cultivated in various scattered parts of the Gardens, a method resulting in inconvenience and loss of time in management, as well as exposing the flowers to the cupidity of visitors and professional thieves. For some years flowers in general and roses in particular lave received careful and regular attention from flower stealers, who have learnt their business so well that they manage to clude the vigilance both of the watchman, and detectives who have been specially detached for this service. These thieves find a good market in the town for cut flowers, and the very numerous entrances (there are nine) to the gardens, and the low walls which surround the grounds It is very desirable that some- greatly facilitate the ingress and egress without detection of thieves. thing should be done to check flower stealing, but at present there does not scein to be much prospect of the possibility of going much further than the concentration of the roses in one place where they can be more readily seen.
10. On the top of the bank at the north side of the terrace a Collection of Creepers has been planted, and an Iron and Wire Trellies 300 feet long and four feet high has been placed for their
support.
11. GREVILLEA AVENUE.--The western end of this walk was a cul de sac which visitors, instead
the of retracing their steps to escape from when they reached its end, got out of by climbing up grass For the con- bank between it and the small walk above; by this the grass was continually worn off. venience of visitors, and the improvement of the end of the avenue, a flight of steps has been made up the bank, and some rock work on each side has been constructed and plautel with ornamental foliage plants, which will grow in the shady situation.
12. Epiphytal Orchids (Phalanopsis spp.) have been placed on the trunks of the Grevillea (Silky- Oak) trees which compose the avenue. The suitability of the climate for the cultivation of Phalaenopsis has yet to be proved. So far the orchids, although they were only indifferent specimens of vigour when placed
on the trees, seem to afford a promise of success, but the cold of winter, which is not yet over, is the severest trial they have to contend with.
13. THINNING AND REMOVAL OF TREES.-Trees and plants of value and beauty which were in danger of having their symetrical development dangerously interfered with by neighbours which had already fulfilled the purposes for which they were originally planted, and which were afterwards occupying the places of interlopers, have been going through a course of ejection for several months. A couple of foresters have been employed to do this carefully. There are still of some kinds of trees far more individuals than there should be in the Gardens, which must gradually be withdrawn. Until this is done it will be impossible to provide suitably for and to introduce trees of new, beautiful, and interesting forms.
14. PALMS.—Å very considerable augmentation of these has taken place. New species have been introduced from various parts of the world, which have raised the number of those in cultivation to one hundred and four. Most of them are planted in permanent positions, but there are others growing in pots and waiting for fit positions to be prepared for them. The limited ground available will nos permit the collection to be very much extended, but when the roses are established in the new rosury, the plot at present occupied by the plants in the New Garden will be available for them.
15. This climate has been found suitable for all palms yet introduced with the exception of Maximiliano Martima and Stevensonia grandifolia, both of which have repeatedly succumbed to cold in the dry season.
The former is a native of North Brazil and Guiana, and the latter of the Seychelle Islands. The inability of these two plants to bear with impunity the cold of this climate is interesting when we consider that other plants, including palms, from the same and from equally as hot regions exhibit no ill-effects from the cold.
16. CONIFERS. Not many additions have been made to these. Dacrydium elatum, a very beautiful and graceful conifer has been introduced from Penang, and promises to flourish in Hongkong. Before much is done in the increase of the collection, the ground for their reception must be extended, this, however, is possible when means are available. The Conifers being side by side with the Palios make a very pleasing and interesting assemblage, which arrests the attention of intelligent visitors and illustrates in a comprehensive space the interjunction of the regions in which these two most interesting, beautiful, and useful families of the vegetable kingdom luxuriate.
17. GLENEALY RAVINE-This remains in a slovenly condition, but year after year leaves us in want of means to improve it. The shrubberies require re-arranging and re-planting, The grass lawns are also in very bad order, but it is useless doing anything with these until the string of people who daily walk across them to scoop up water from the nullah can be diverted.
This, I trust, will be possible as soon as the necessity for the coolies to come in search of water is removed.
18. PLANT HOUSES.-The fern collection continues to improve and it shows the great advantage which the house constructed for its accommodation three years ago has been to it, not only in pro- viding the more suitable conditions which were indispensable for successful cultivation, but also in exhibiting the beauties of the plants to greater advantage.
19. The plant house which was built two years ago for other classes of plants, especially foliage plants and orchids, has also been successful in the purpose for which it was designed. A number of orchids which had previously not been successfully cultivated have made better growth, and been preserved in a healthy and vigorous state in consequence of our being able to meet their requirements inore completely by the facilities to regulate the shade, shelter, and moisture which the house affords. There is, however, room for great improvement in orchid cultivation, which can only be achieved by the closest and most constant stuly of the wants of the plants, and unceasing supervision and direction of the workmen in the application of all that plants require.
20. The old structure with a glass roof, the first one of any kind which the Gardens possessed, and which I had built 14 years ago, contains ornamental foliage plants, some orchids, and a few ferns which cannot be grown in this climate without protection from the cold and dry climate of the cool These plants it would be utterly impossible to grow without such protection. The house, however, in both size and design incets in a very imperfect manner the needs of the plants; it is in a rotten, tumble-down condition, but I am loth to appropriate much money for repairs to it.
season.
21. This house has fulfilled a good purpose in proving that with such aid very interesting and lovely plants may be grown here, which otherwise it would be impossible to keep alive. Instead of repairing it I hope the Government will be able to grant a sum of money for the Erection of a Glass- house which will be more commodious, and which will be worthy of our justly famed Gardens and Colony.
The house could be filled at once with plants, and it would be a source of the greatest pleasure and benefit to the public.
22. AVIARIES AND ANIMALS' PENS.-In the aviaries several birds have been missing, and others found dead. The assumption is that the mischief has been done by some animal, probably by cats wild or tame. I have not attempted to procure other birds to take the places of the missing ones, because, I hope during the year to be able to put up some new cages which will exclude cats from the larger birds, and rats from the smaller ones. When these cages are up, a few more birds will be obtained,
23. The posts and wire netting which enclose the deer and large birds are much decayed, as well as the little houses inside. All of this I hope likewise, during the year to put in better order, and to improve the general appearance of the pens.
24. ST. IGNATIUS' BEANS (Strychnos Ignatü, Berg.)—I am indebted for specimens of dried leaves and wood of this to Mr. CROW, the Government Analyst, who has exerted himself in obtaining them from the Philippine Islands in order to endeavour to clear up the botanical origin of this important drug. Mr. VIDAL, Inspector-General of Forests at Manila, however, has succeeded in procuring complete specimens necessary for the conclusive determination of the plant. A description and two plates have been inserted as an appendix in the "Revision de Plantas Vasculares Filipinas" which Mr. VIDAL published last year. Descriptions of the plant were given by LOUREIRO as far back as 1793, and by BLANCO in 1845, but no complete herbarium specimens seen to have been accessible until last year.
25. CHINESE STAR ANISE.-In my report for 1883 I mentioned that through the enterprise and kindness of Mr. H. Korsen, who was then Commissioner of Customs at Pakhoi, some very small seedlings of what was reputed to be the Chinese Star Anise plant had been obtained.
These were yery carefully nursed, and they had been watched and well cared for since that time. One of them has
grown into a small tree 10 feet high, and in September last it rewarded us for the care bestowed on it by producing a few flowers, which were sufficient to enable the species to be ascertained. On reference to the works in the Gardens library I found that it was neither Illicium religiosum Sieb. et Zuc. tor I. anis-atum, Linn. The former is the Japanese Star Anise and the latter is the plant which had been supposed to yield Chinese Star Anise. I submitted specimens to Kew Gardens for comparison with the dried plants stored in its magnificent herbarium, and with descriptions of species in the library there. Mr. THISELTON DYER, the Director of the Gardens, in reply informs me that the speci- men sent is referred to Illicium camboiliense of which Kow has specimens from Dr. PIERE besides the latter's figure in Flore Forestrie de Cochin-Chine," and that it is nearly allied to I. Griffithai. II. f. and T., and I. majus, H. f. and T., two Indian species. This is an important additional step in this very interesting question, but the seedlings having been obtained through natives, the question of the source of Chinese Star Anise caunot be considered quite settled, as we have yet to prove that the plants which we have of Illicium cambodiensc are identical with those which really furnish the Anise of commerce. This cannot be satisfactorily decided until the Anise plants are seen in the districts where they grow by a reliable European, or until our plants produce seeds, when the capsules and seeds can be compared with those in trade; if the two then prove to be identical we may feel pretty sure that the origin of Chinese Star Anise has been discovered. The few flowers which were produced last year were all
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.