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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST FEBRUARY, 1873.
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13. Bowrington Plantation.-This seems the most unpromising of all the plantations under my charge. This appears due chiefly to the unfavourable nature of the soil, and to the unsuitable nature and quality of the trees which were planted, but as our stock increases, trees will be intro- duced more agreeable to the nature of the soil and situation.
INTERCHANGE OF PLANTS AND SEEDS.
14. Dr. HOOKER in his Report on the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, for the year 1871, in speaking of the Hongkong Government Gardens, attaches great importance to them as a means of "introducing a multitude of valuable vegetable products which are described by travellers in China, but which are totally unknown in Europe." Nearly all the plants in these Gardens are already introduced or known to botanists in Europe. But, in order to carry out the views of Dr. HoOKER, I respectfully invite the co-operation of botanists and residents in the East, to assist in carrying them into effect, by mutual interchange of plants and seeds. This has already been done to a small extent, and my thanks are due to the ladies and gentlemen who have kindly contributed. The exchange of plants is by no means so extensive, as it ought to be, if we take into account the great facilities which now exist for such interchanges.
15. The number of contributors to the Gardens were 27; from these, 1,192 plants and packets of seeds were received. The largest number of contributions were from the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.
16. 348 plants and packets of seeds have been sent to 212 recipients which include Kew Gardens, Queensland Acclimatisation Society, &c., &c.
SUGGESTIONS.
17. The addition of an European Garden Assistant, who would have a good knowledge of gar- dening, is required, as the duties attending the management of the Gardens and the propagation and cultivation of trees in the Colony are so various and numerous, and the scenes of the works, in many cases, so widely separated, thas it is impossible to give that attention to details which is desirable. The number of visitors to the Gardens is such as might be expected from the large uumber of residents in the Colony. With more intelligent assistance, the Gardens might be made more attractive, and thus become a source of greater pleasure and instruction to visitors than they how are. In addition, the Government Gardens is a fitting place for the establishment of a Herbarian of dried plants; which would be useful to botanists when they might wish to refer to specimens of plants that could not conveniently be seen in a living state. A Gentleman, who is celebrated as an authority in Chinese botany, has kindly intimated that he "would be most happy to aid in the establishment of a Chinese Herbarium in Hongkong, giving every advice and assistance in his power." As well as the establishment of a Herbarium, a library of botanical, horticultural, and aboricultural works should be provided for those having the direction of Garden affairs; and also for the section of the Public who are interested in botany.-I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES FORD, Superintendent of Government Gardens, and Tree Planting Department.
The Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
HONGKONG.
No. 14.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Notice is hereby given, that Tenders for the Privilege of preparing and selling Prepared Opium within the Colony for the term of One, Two, Three, Four, or Five Years, respectively, from the 1st March next, under the Provisions of Ordinance No. 2 of 1858, will be received at this Office, until Noon on Monday, the 3rd February, 1873.
Every Tender should specify the amount per mensem for each of the periods above-mentioned. Each Person tendering must produce a receipt to the effect that he has deposited in the Colonial Treasury, the Sum of $5,000 as a pledge of the bona fides of his offer, which Sun will be forfeited to the Crown, if such Person shall fail to carry out his Tender.
The Government does not bind itself to accept the highest or any Tender. Government Notification No. 221 of 23rd November, 1872, is hereby cancelled.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 23rd January, 1873.
CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.
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