THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH NOVEMBER, 1877.
509
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 and gardens of Kowloon, I would propose to make this tree enter largely into the varieties to be planted in the future. 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. Cocoanuts sprouted in the husk for the purposes of seed may be had in large quantities from Manila at from five to seven cents a piece, and we might begin by purchasing and planting five thousand during the forthcoming year. The first palm-groves might be appropriately planted in the sandy open grounds near the Bowrington Canal and in the Bowrington Compound. That neighbourhood is the Hyde Park of Hongkong and has been for the last quarter of a century the only evening health drive which the European Community has boasted of, owing however to the salt and sandy nature of the soil it has defied whatever attempts may have been made to cultivate it, and it remains to this day unattractive and shadeless.
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. Of the productiveness of the ground under a moderate amount of fertilization and tillage, we already possess ample proof in the vegetation we have reared, wh 'e in respect of climate, its capabilities may be best judged by the fact that firs and cocoanut palms, the typic 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 Hongkong. It is universally acknowledged that the improved health of the Colony is in a great measure due to the little that has already been done in clothing the granite with arborescent vegetation, and His Excellency will not have failed, in the short time he has been among 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,
The Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
ESTIMATE OF COST OF PLANTING HALF-A-MILLION OF TREES PER ANNUM.
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,..
$209.40
196.20
306.15
500.00
150.00
250.00
7. Purchase of 5,000 Cocoanuts, at 7 cents,
350.00
8. Contingencies,
100.00
Total Prime Cost,.....
$2,061.75
Note.--If convict labour be used, item 4 may be omitted, and item 6
brought down to one-half, reducing the total to
..$1,436.75
Estimate of Yearly Recurring Outlay.
1. 60 Coolies for 1 month, seed collecting at 6 Coolies for $1 per diem., $300.00
2. 60 Coolies for 2 months, digging holes and carrying trees,
3.
6 Permanent Coolies to work in nurseries, 12 months,
4. Purchase of Cocoas and select seeds,
5. Repair of tools and baskets, &c.,
Total Yearly Outlay,....
Note.---If convict labour be used, items 2 and 3 may be omitted, reducing
total yearly outlay to
600.00
360.00
200.00
150.00
$1,610.00
$ 650.00
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
Hongkong, 28th August, 1877.
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