70
D.A. GRIFFITHS AND S.P. LAU
By 1884 all the land available for the extension of the Gardens had been completed.
"The exceptionally sterile nature of the soil of this barren rock, the exposed aspect of the Gardens and absence of water for artificial watering in the dry season, necessitate the expenditure of a great deal of thought, time, and means than is usually experienced in establishments of this kind."
At least one specimen of each kind of tree or shrub by now carried a label and an exchange of plants and seeds was established with more than 40 organisations. On the cultural side the Annual Flower Show had been organized since 1872 and there was a weekly musical performance by the Regimental Band. Plants were also on sale to the public.
Ford had become a tireless worker in establishing a scientific approach to Hong Kong's flora and he was undoubtedly the person to whom credit must be given in establishing, describing and preserving a wide variety of botanical finds both in Hongkong and in China as well as further afield in the Island of Taiwan. He was deeply committed to the more economic aspects of Botany and introduced a wide variety of economically important exotic plants to the area. He also had an abiding interest in forestry and was one of the first people to realise the importance of forest trees as objects of beauty as well as instruments to prevent further soil erosion and thus preserve what little remained of the barren soil of the island.
In 1886 Ford explains how expenditure had outstripped estimates but sensibly sugars the unpalatable pill:
"The actual revenue for this year will be at least $200,000 in excess of the estimated revenue. Our plantations are thriving splendidly. I am planting very extensively true Camphor trees which will be, I estimate, most valuable to the Colony in due time. I planted many thousands last year and they have all done amazingly well.
In 1887 (July 26th) he is again complaining about the lack of support from within the Government but knowing he has the tacit support of Governor he states philosophically:
¦
70
D.A. GRIFFITHS AND S.P. LAU
By 1884 all the land available for the extension of the Gardens had been completed.
"The exceptionally sterile nature of the soil of this bar- ren rock, the exposed aspect of the Gardens and ab- sence of water for artificial watering in the dry season, necessitate the expenditure of a great deal of thought, time, and means than is usually experienced in estab- lishments of this kind."
At least one specimen of each kind of tree or shrub by now carried a label and an exchange of plants and seeds was established with more than 40 organisations. On the cultural side the Annual Flower Show had been organized since 1872 and there was a week- ly musical performance by the Regimental Band. Plants were also on sale to the public. Ford had become a tireless worker in estab- lishing a scientific approach to Hong Kong's flora and he was undoubtedly the person to whom credit must be given in estab- lishing, describing and preserving a wide variety of botanical finds both in Hongkong and in China as well as further afield in the Island of Taiwan. He was deeply committed to the more economic aspects of Botany and introduced a wide variety of economically important exotic plants to the area. He also had an abiding interest in forestry and was one of the first people to realise the importance of forest trees as objects of beauty as well as instruments to prevent further soil erosion and thus preserve what little remained of the barren soil of the island. In 1886 Ford explains how expenditure had outstripped estimates but sensibly sugars the unpalatable pill:
"The actual revenue for this year will be at least $200,000 in excess of the estimated revenue. Our plan- tations are thriving splendidly. I am planting very ex- tensively true Camphor trees which will be, I estimate, most valuable to the Colony in due time. I planted many thousands last year and they have all done amaz- ingly well.
In 1887 (July 26th) he is again complaining about the lack of support from within the Government but knowing he has the tacit support of Governor he states philosophically:
¦
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