67. The Annual Reports of this Department are regularly sent in exchange to all our correspondents.
68. The library contains, besides the various reports and papers, 270 volumes.
69. In Appendix No. 1 I record a few notes made during a visit to San Ui in the delta of the Canton river on the Palm which is cultivated extensively by the Chinese for the production of leaves for making fans, rain coats for coolies, and for use as thatch, for which it is so extensively employed in South China.
FORESTRY.
70. The area of ground operated on in artificial reproduction was smaller than in some previous years. It was necessary to reduce the operations of 1886 for two reasons, one of which was in consequence of the weakening of the controlling staff, and the other was to meet the circumstances of the reduced vote for 1887 which was contemplated in 1885. By providing a small balance from the vote for 1886 I was enabled to devote it to the operations which could be carried out in that year as part of the following season's planting, thus enabling us to accomplish more work during the present year when the staff is again complete and competent to resume the full complement of work.
71. The number of trees planted was nearly up to the average. It was in the rearing of trees in situ that the diminution of area operated on was effected. This operation was entirely suspended. With the exception of a few thousands of trees planted in the neighbourhood of Deep-water Bay the planting was successfully accomplished. The few which were not successful suffered for want of water in a spell of dry weather which succeeded the planting of them.
72. The total number of trees planted was 299,911, of these 293,000 were China Pines, 4,500 Camphor trees, and 1,000 Pride of India trees. The remainder consisted of miscellaneous trees to the number of about 1,200.
73. CAMPHOR TREE.-A large number of trees of this species were planted in 1885, and they are in fairly good condition. It is probable that this tree will be successful in Hongkong, but it is too early to yet pronounce positively one way or another on the subject. If the conditions do prove suitable for the tree, it will be a valuable acquisition, for besides affording pleasant variety to the sylvan effects of the landscapes, the timber may in time be of value.
74. The early made plantations of China Pines at high altitudes, and in wind-swept patches do not, as I anticipated, succeed very well. However to put the theory to the test a sufficient number of trees were planted in exposed places and at high elevations for experiment. Now the selection of lands for planting is made at comparatively low altitudes.
75. PINUS MASSONIANA. In 1882 I obtained from Japan seeds of this tree which is indigenous to that country, and of a sturdy habit, with which to experiment for cultivation above the height at which the China Pine did well. The seeds were sown in situ at an altitude of from 1,000 to 1,400 feet. The growth of the tree is slower than that of the China Pine, but the trees are very healthy and of robust habit, and they seem well adapted for bearing the adverse conditions for general tree growth which prevail towards the tops of the hills.
76. QUERCUS FISSA.--At the same altitude as the Japanese Pine, young trees of this Hongkong Oak were planted. Some of them, where a little sheltered, have grown very well, and they now measure as much as 9 feet in height and the same in diameter.
77. TRISTANEA CONFERTA.-A member of the myrtle family, and native of North Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. It grows into a large tree and the timber is well spoken of in Australia. The rapid growth of a solitary tree of this which had been introduced from one of the Botanic Gardens of Australia, and planted in our Botanic Garden led me to send to Australia for a supply of seeds. From these 800 trees were raised in 1883 and planted out three years ago. The majority were planted on the north side of the island at about 300 feet altitude, and a number of them at a similar height on the south side of the dividing ridge. All have made remarkable progress, the height of the trees now being as much in many instances as 20 feet. The growth and vigour is greater than that of any tree yet tried, if we except the Gum trees, and of these only a few kinds equal the Tristanea.
78. GUM TREES.—The Eucalyptus trees continue to do well. Of those planted near the Military Sanitarium two years ago a few species have become splendid vigorous trees. These are on the top of a ridge where the soil is naturally loose and deep. At the same time as these trees were planted, a quantity of the same species were planted at not more than 100 to 200 feet above sea-level, those near the Sanitarium are at about 800 feet. Of twelve kinds three succeeded better at the low level than corresponding plants of the same species at the higher level, five succeeded better at the higher level, while four succeeded equally at both places. The result of the experiment is therefore slightly in favour of the higher altitude for Eucalyptus cultivation.
79. ALEURITES VERNICIA----(Chinese Varnish and Wood-oil-tree.) A plantation of this on Mt. Parker is flourishing and has entirely met my anticipations. The young trees are of an average height of about 2 feet. The situation of the plantation is well sheltered and the soil is good and deep. Seeds, however, which were sown at the same time near Pokfulam in an equally sheltered position, but where the soil was shallow, and in which there was a large mixture of stones, have produced trees very inferior to those on Mt. Parker.
80. SOWING BROADCAST in Situ.-In 1883 and 1885 experiments were made of sowing seeds broadcast amongst grass in various places without any preparation of the soil. In two places the results have been very good, and the young trees are so promising that I intend to adopt the method on a larger scale on lands similar to those where the experiments succeeded. The cost has not yet been accurately ascertained, but it appears so small that I believe double the area of that accomplished by transplanting from nurseries can be operated on in an equally successful manner by the new method. The selection and demarcation of the lands suitable for the system will, however, require to be done carefully by European agency, and this, under the present organization of the staff, seems hardly possible with the great amount of other work which demands all available time.
81. BAMBOOS.-In 1885 an operation, which has not yet been reported, was commenced in the Bowrington Plantation of dividing large clumps of bamboos and transplanting them in one of the divisions with a view to the replacement with the bamboos of the pine trees which now exist there, and of the production of a supply of bamboo canes for the use of the department, and probably for sale. The soil and situation is well adapted for the bamboo, and if the whole of the enclosure be planted with bamboo there should in the course of a few years be an annual revenue from that source.
82. I hope to be able to introduce from the bamboo growing districts to the north-west of Canton, and from other places, many of the valuable kinds of bamboo which are of such inestimable use to the Chinese. These will be planted in the Bowrington Plantation, besides placing one specimen of each kind in the collection within the Botanic Gardens.
83. PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA.--This is a small shrub, a member of the large order of Euphorbiaceae, which bears an edible fruit, often an inch in diameter, of a very acid taste, somewhat resembling a hard smooth, round, green gooseberry, and which is apparently palatable to the natives. It is found growing wild scattered about various places in the Colony, not very high above sea-level.
84. The bark is a valuable tanning material, and is in much request by fishermen, so much so that we have great trouble in conserving the shrubs which exist. I am informed that the fishermen place a higher value on it as a tanning material than even on Mangrove bark.
85. I have procured a large quantity of seeds of this plant, and they will be sown in the nurseries with a view to rearing plants for making plantations with. It may be possible that plantations of it will in time be valuable.
88. CLEARING OFF BRUSHWOOD.-The brushwood in some plantations having become ranker than desirable near roads where it impeded free passage of currents of wind, and where it afforded too much cover, I arranged to have the most advanced plantations cleared of the undergrowth. The plantations through which the Peak road passes have been done.
87. Those near Kennedy Road are begun and the work there and in other plantations will be continued when more important works free men to enable them to do it.
88. The clearance of undergrowth will not only be done free of expense to the Government, but revenue will be collected from it.
89. SPECIMENS FOR INDIAN AND COLONIAL EXHIBITION. A collection of specimens of wood of different kinds of Hongkong trees was made and taken with me to England, where they were cut and polished, and afterwards named and set up in the Exhibition.
90. Specimens of a large number of articles made from bamboo and used in domestic economy were afterwards collected by the Acting Superintendent and forwarded to the Exhibition.
91. PLANTING OPERATIONS BY CONTRACTS.-These are done under five different contracts. They are-1. Supplying Seeds, 2. Rearing Trees in Nurseries, 3. Making Tree Pits, 4. Planting Trees, and 5 Rearing Trees in Situ.
92. Prices paid vary somewhat one year with another. For instance the price paid for Seeds in 1885 was higher, with one exception, than at any other time. The contract just made is next to the lowest on record. The contract for 1885 for making Tree Pits was higher, than it was in the two previous years, while that just made is fixed at the same price as the previous one. The 1885 contract for Planting Trees while lower than in some previous ones was about fifty per cent, higher than the last contract for the same kind of work. The 1885 contract for Rearing Trees was lower than it was in the two previous years, but not so low as it was three years before, while it was a good deal higher than the one recently made.
93. Last year's tenders threw out the experienced men who had for several years given satisfaction in Rearing Trees. A new man entirely without experience in this work received a contract for all the trees which were wanted. Although the contract price is low, we are paying dearly for the contractor's inexperience as the trees are the most inferior which I remember,
355
67. The Annual Reports of this Department are regularly sent in exchange to all our corres pondents.
68. The library contains, besides the various reports and papers, 270 volumes.
69. In Appendix No. 1 I record a few notes made during a visit to San Ui in the delta of the Canton river on the Palm which is cultivated extensively by the Chinese for the production of leave for making fans, rain coats for coolies, and for use as thatch, for which it is so extensively employed in South China.
FORESTRY.
70. The area of ground operated on in artificial reproduction was smaller than in some previous years. It was necessary to reduce the operations of 1886 for two reasons, one of which was in conse- quence of the weakening of the controlling staff, and the other was to meet the circumstances of the reduced vote for 1887 which was contemplated in 1885. By providing a small balance from the vote for 1886 I was enabled to devote it to the operations which could be carried out in that year as part of the following season's planting, thus enabling us to accomplish more work during the present year when the staff is again complete and competent to resume the full complement of work.
71. The number of trees planted was nearly up to the average. It was in the rearing of trees in situ that the diminution of area operated on was effected. This operation was entirely suspended. With the exception of a few thousands of trees planted in the neighbourhood of Deep-water Bay the planting was successfully accomplished. The few which were not successful suffered for want of water in a spell of dry weather which succeeded the planting of them.
72. The total number of trees planted was 299,911, of these 293,000 were China Pines, 4,500 The remainder consisted of miscellaneous trees to the Camphor trees, and 1,000 Pride of India trecs. number of about 1,200.
73. CAMPHOR TREE.-A large number of trees of this species were planted in 1885, and they in fairly good condition. It is probable that this tree will be successful in Hongkong, but it is appear too early to yet pronounce positively one way or another on the subject. If the conditions do prove suitable for the tree, it will be a valuable acquisition, for besides affording pleasant variety to the sylvan effects of the landscapes, the timber may in time be of value.
74. The early made plantations of China Pines at high altitudes, and in wind-swept patches do not, as I anticipated, succeed very well. However to put the theory to the test a sufficient number of trees were planted in exposed places and at high elevations for experiment. Now the selection of lauds for planting is made at comparatively low altitudes.
75. PINUS MASSONIANA. In 1882 I obtained from Japan seeds of this tree which is indigenous to that country, and of a sturdy habit, with which to experiment for cultivation above the height at which the China Pine did well. The seeds were sown in situ at an altitude of from 1,000 to 1,400 feet. The growth of the tree is slower than that of the China Pine, but the trees are very healthy and of robust habit, and they seem well adapted for bearing the adverse conditions for general tree growth which prevail towards the tops of the hills.
76. QUERCUS FISSA.--At the same altitude as the Japanese Pine, young trees of this Hongkong Oak were planted. Some of them, where a little sheltered, have grown very well, and they now measure as much as 9 feet in height and the same in diameter.
77. TRISTANEA CONFERTA.-A member of the myrtle family, and native of North Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. It grows into a large tree and the timber is well spoken of in Australia. The rapid growth of a solitary tree of this which had been introduced from one of the Botanic Gardens of Australia, and planted in our Botanic Garden led me to send to Australia for a supply of seeds. From these 800 trees were raised in 1883 and planted out three years ago. The majority were planted on the north side of the island at about 300 feet altitude, and a number of them at a similar height on the south side of the dividing ridge. All have made remarkable progress, the height of the trees now being as much in many instances as 20 feet. The growth and vigour is greater than that of any tree yet tried, if we except the Gum trees, and of these only a few kinds equal the Tristanea.
78. GUM TREES.—The Eucalyptus trees continue to do well. Of those planted near the Military Sanitarium two years ago a few species have become splendid vigorous trees. These are on the top of a ridge where the soil is naturally loose and deep. At the same time as these trees were planted, a quantity of the same species were planted at not more than 100 to 200 feet above sea-level, those near the Sanitarium are at about 800 fect. Of twelve kinds three succeeded better at the low level that corresponding plants of the same species at the higher level, five succeeded better at the higher level, while four succeeded equally at both places. The result of the experiment is therefore slightly in aavour of the higher altitude for Eucalyptus cultivation.
79. ALEURITES VERNICIA.---- -(Chinese Varnish and Wood-oil-tree.) A plantation of this on Mt. Parker is flourishing and has entirely met my anticipations. The young trees are of an average height of about 2 feet. The situation of the plantation is well sheltered and the soil is good and deep. Seeds, however, which were sown at the same time near Pokfulam in an equally sheltered position, but where the soil was shallow, and in which there was a large mixture of stones, have pro- luced trees very inferior to those on Mt. l'arker.
80. SOWING BROADCAST in Situ.-In 1883 and 1885 experiments were made of sowing seeds broadcast amongst grass in various places without any preparation of the soil. In two places the results have been very good, and the young trees are so promising that I intend to adopt the method on a larger scale on lands similar to those where the experiments succeeded. The cost has not yet been accurately ascertained, but it appears so small that I believe double the area of that accomplished by transplanting from nurseries can be operated on in an equally successful manner by the new method. The selection and demarcation of the lands suitable for the system will, however, require to be done carefully by European agency, and this, under the present organization of the staff, seems hardly possible with the great amount of other work which demands all available time.
81. BAMBOOS.-In 1885 an operation, which has not yet been reported, was commenced in the Bowrington Plantation of dividing large clumps of bamboos and transplanting them in one of the divisions with a view to the replacement with the bamboos of the pine trees which now exist there, and of the production of a supply of bamboo canes for the use of the department, and probably for sale. The soil and situation is well adapted for the bamboo, and if the whole of the enclosure be planted with bamboo there should in the course of a few years be an annual revenue from that source.
82. I hope to be able to introduce from the bamboo growing districts to the north-west of Canton, and from other places, many of the valuable kinds of bamboo which are of such inestimable use to the Chinese. Those will be planted in the Bowrington Plantation, besides placing one specimen of each kind in the collection within the Botanic Gardeus.
83. PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA.--This is a small shrub, a member of the large order of Euphorbiacea, which bears an edible fruit, often an inch in diameter, of a very acid taste, somewhat resembling a hard smooth, round, green gooseberry, and which is apparently palatable to the natives. It is found growing wild scattered about various places in the Colony, not very high above sea-level.
84. The bark is a valuable tanning material, and is in much request by fishermen, so much so that we have great trouble in conserving the shrubs which exist. I am informed that the fishermen place a higher value on it as a tanning material than even on Mangrove bark.
85. I have procured a large quantity of seeds of this plant, and they will be sown in the nurseries with a view to rearing plants for making plantations with. It may be possible that plantations of it will in time be valuable.
88. CLEARING OFF BRUSHWOOD.-The brushwood in some plantations having become ranker than desirable near roads where it impeded free passage of currents of wind, and where it afforded too much cover, I arranged to have the most advanced plantatious cleared of the undergrowth. The plantations through which the Peak road passes have been done.
87. Those near Kennedy Road are begun and the work there and in other plantations will be continued when more important works free men to enable them to do it.
88. The clearance of undergrowth will not only be done free of expense to the Government, but # revenue will be collected from it.
89. SPECIMENS FOR INDIAN AND COLONIAL EXHIBITION. A collection of specimens of wood of different kinds of Hongkong trees was made and taken with me to England, where they were cut and polished, and afterwards nained and set up in the Exhibition.
90. Specimens of a large number of articles made from bamboo and used in domestic economy were afterwards collected by the Acting Superintendent and forwarded to the Exhibition.
91. PLANTING OPERATIONS BY CONTRACTS.-These are done under five different contracts. They are-1. Supplying Seeds, 2. Rearing Trees in Nurseries, 3. Making Tree Pits, 4. Planting Trees, and 5 Rearing Trees in Situ.
92. Prices paid vary somewhat one year with another. For instance the price paid for Seeds in 1885 was higher, with one exception, than at any other time. The contract just made is next to the lowest on record. The contract for 1885 for making Tree Pits was higher, than it was in the two previous years, while that just made is fixed at the same price as the previous one. The 1885 contract for Planting Trees while lower than in some previous ones was about fifty per cent, higher than the last contract for the same kind of work. The 1885 contract for Rearing Trees was lower than it was in the two previous years, but not so low as it was three years before, while it was a good deal higher than the one recently made.
93. Last year's tenders threw out the experienced men who had for several years given satisfac- tion in Rearing Trees. A new man entirely without experience in this work received a contract for all the trees which were wanted. Although the contract price is low, we are paying dearly for the contractor's inexperience as the trees are the most inferior which I remember,
355
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