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more can be planted. . . . The Fernery in Glenealy Ravine in the New Garden, which was made about five years since, has succeeded admirably.
The administration of the gardens also became independent of the Survey Department and emerged as the Botanical Department.
Mr. Ford also botanised widely in the area and started a collection of plant specimens as soon as he arrived in Hong Kong. The Herbarium was formally established in 1878 and in 1881 he started a series of botanical expeditions to southern China for the purpose of obtaining more knowledge of its then little known flora, especially the economic plants.
"The living plants introduced to cultivation by this expedition contain many things of very much interest which will be valuable acquisitions to (the) gardens."
In addition to his duties in the Botanic Gardens, Ford also had a much wider outlook on the flora of Hong Kong and in a letter to T. Thistleton-Dyer F.R.S. (dated 16/8/81) he illustrates his interest in the conservation of the natural flora on the hillsides:
"From the commencement of this year I have had two 'Forest Guards' at work whose special duty is to patrol the Island and prevent wanton destruction of trees and shrubs by grass cutters and other people. They are doing excellent service and I believe that we shall in consequence, get many more new plants. There are many shrubs growing on the hills which are unknown to me, and which, I believe have never been found in flower because of their having been so frequently cut down that they could not attain sufficient size to flower, but which, now that they are being preserved, will be able to flower."
In his report to Kew 1882 Ford estimated that about one-tenth of Hong Kong (including the New Territories, Lantao and Lamma islands) was planted. "There might be about 25,000,000 trees
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more can be planted. . . . The Fernery in Glenealey Ravine in the New Garden, which was made about five years since, has succeeded admirably."
The administration of the gardens also became independent of the Survey Department and emerged as the Botanical Depart- ment.
Mr. Ford also botanised widely in the area and started a collec- tion of plant specimens as soon as he arrived in Hong Kong. The Herbarium was formally established in 1878 and in 1881 he start- ed a series of botanical expeditions to southern China for the purpose of obtaining more knowledge of its then little known flo- ra, especially the economic plants.
"The living plants introduced to cultivation by this expedition contain many things of very much interest which will be valuable acquisitions to (the) gardens."
In addition to his duties in the Botanic Gardens, Ford also had a much wider outlook on the flora of Hongkong and in a letter to T. Thistleton-Dyer F.R.S. (dated 16/8/81) he illustrates his inter- est in the conservation of the natural flora on the hillsides:
"From the commencement of this year I have had two 'Forest Guards' at work whose special duty is to patrol the Island and prevent wanton destruction of trees and shrubs by grass cutters and other people. They are do- ing excellent service and I believe that we shall in con- sequence, get many more new plants. There are many shrubs growing on the hills which are unknown to me, and which, I believe have never been found in flower because of their having been so frequently cut down that they could not attain sufficient size to flower, but which, now that they are being preserved, will be able to flower."
In his report to Kew 1882 Ford estimated that about one-tenth of Hong Kong (including the New Territories. Lantao and Lamma islands) was planted. "There might be about 25,000,000 trees
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