BOTANIC GARDENS
(5) Continuation.
The use of the Public Gardens for flower shows and bad performances has already been noted. References appear in the annual reports as late as 1887 and beyond to regular performances by the regimental bands, which were a great attraction. However, these had been discontinued for a while in the Gardens, and the Hongkong Telegraph of October 26, 1882, makes reference to the fact that moonlight performances by the Regimental Band of the Buffs would in future be given on the Cricket Ground instead of in the Public Gardens. The change was decided upon owing to "The limited and not particularly select audiences who attend in the Gardens".
That drawback was evidently overcome, or overlooked, at a later date.
The flower shows are not always given a reference in the reports, so it is difficult to trace when they first ceased: the last mention I have found so far is made in 1886, when the fifteenth annual flower show was held in the Old Gardens as previously. It was then a flourishing institution, and must have continued several years longer.
It is also disclosed that at one time annual al fresco fetes were held on two successive nights, in aid of the Alice Memorial Hospital, the first of these in November 1886, when about 6,000 people attended on each night. There was considerable damage to the plants and flower-beds by trampling, and the staff were busy for days clearing up debris and repairing the signs of the "visitation." The result was that the last fete was held in 1888 - the Superintendent mentions his relief that owing to protests against the damage done, no more were to be held in the Gardens.
As regards the popularity of the place on ordinary days, a count made in 1883 showed an average of 1,256 visitors daily, the proportion being approximately 400 foreigners and 856 Chinese. Since then, of course, the attendance is sometimes even larger, with Chinese vastly in the majority.
Something of the Botanical and Forestry Department's outside work is worth tracing back to the old days. We find that afforestation was instituted very early. By 1880 there were ten Government plant nurseries in Hongkong and the Kowloon peninsula, while the nursery at Sookunpoo was already in an advanced state in 1879. Of afforestation work, it is on record that in 1875 and again in 1877 plantations were created on the sides of the road leading up to the Peak from the city - many of the trees then planted exist to-day, making this pathway one of the sylvan attractions.
1884.
Plant sales to the public were inaugurated in
The Forest Guard service was reorganised and enlarged in 1881. Owing to the depredations of timber cutters, particularly in the fine natural forest at Little Hongkong, where patrols were instituted at the beginning of that year, with the result that much of the cutting was suppressed.
ы
BOTANIC GARDENS
( 5 ) Continuation.
The use of the Public Gardens for flower shows and bad performances has already been noted. References appear in the annual reports as late as 1887 and beyond to regular performances by the regimental bands, which were a great attraction. However, these had been discontinued for a while in the Gardens, and the Hongkong Telegraph of October 26, 1882, makes reference to the fact that moonlight performances by the Regimental Band of the Buffs would in future be given on the Cricket Ground instead of in the Public Gardesn. The change was decided upon owing to The limited and not particularly select audiences who attend in the Gardens ".
That drawback was evidently overcome, or over- looked, at a later date,
The flower shows are not always given a reference in the reports, so it is difficult to trace when they first ceased : the last mention I have found so far is made in 1886, when the fifteenth annual flower show was held" in the Old Gardens as previously. It was then a flourishing institution, and must have continued several years longer.
It is also disclosed that at one time annual al fresco fetes wereheld on two successive night, in aid of the Alice Memorial Hospital, the first of these in November 1886, when a bout 6,000 peiple attended on each night. There was considerable damage to the plants and flower-beds by trampling, and the staff were busy for days clearing up debris and repairing the signs of the " vi- sitation. " The result was that the last fete was held in 1888 - the Superintendent mentions his relief that owing to protests against the damage done, no more were to be held in the Gardens.
As regards the popularity of the place on ordina- ry days, a count made in 1883 xhowed an average of 1,256 visitors daily, the proportion being approximately 400 foreigners and 866 Chinese. Since then, of course the attendance is sometimes even larger, with Chinese vastly in the majority.
Something of the Botanical and Forestry Depart- ment's outside work is worth tracing back to the old days. We find that afforestation was instituted very early. By 1880 there were ten Government plant nurseries in Hongkong and the Kowloon peninsula, while the nursery at Sookunpoo was already in an advanced state in 1879. Of afforestation work, it is on record that in 1875 and again in 1877 plantations were created on the sides of the road leading up to the Peak from the city - many of the trees them planted exist to-day, making this pathway one of the sylvan attraction.
1884.
Plant sales to the public were inaugurated in
The Forest Guard service was reorganised and enlarged in 1881. Owing to the depredations of timber cutters, particularly in the fine natural forest at Little Hongkong, where patrols were instituted at the beginning of that year, with the result that much of the cutting was suppressed.
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