Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 138

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22. As an appendix, I attach a list of Additions to the Hongkong flora which have been discovered since Dr. HANCE's valuable supplement was published in 1871. The localities and dates, and names of individuals refer to the places where the plants were found, the time of the discoveries, and the names of the discoverers. In those cases where descriptions or notices of the plants have been published the Journals or Magazines which contain them are referred to. No list has been made public for 13 years, and a number of additions have not been recorded at all, although many entirely new species have been described and published, chiefly in the journal of Botany. This list will not only be inter- esting but it should be of much use to workers at the Hongkong flora. It will serve a good purpose until a descriptive list of additions is published, a work which is much needed. I have to thank Dr. H. F. HANCE, H. B. M., Acting Consul at Canton, for valuable information and assistance in the preparation of the list.

23. As new discoveries of plants are continually being made in Hongkong we may yet expect many interesting additions to the number already known when the Island is more completely searched.

24. The Re-arrangement of the herbarium has been completed and a good foundation now exists on which to build up what should become in the future the chief herbarium in China.

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AFFORESTATION.

25. The work of the year has been chiefly devoted to the rearing and planting of the China pine as before. The Total number of trees planted is 330,019, and of sites sown 384,140. This kind of tree we must look to chiefly for the furnishing of the hills with forest vegetation, as it is the only one which experience would lead me to plant in large quantities in most of the localities where afforestation can be successfully carried on.

26. Other kinds have been experimented with, several new ones having been added to the list during the year, but most of the exotic trees must be provided with much more favourable conditions for tree growth than those which the China pine requires; these favourable conditions exist in small areas only, and they are often widely separated, which makes the management of them a great deal more difficult than if extensive areas could be obtained in localities convenient of access. The conditions most favourable are good soil, an adequate amount of moisture in the soil, and especially shelter from winds. All of these conditions usually decrease in proportion as we ascend the hills, therefore I have chiefly limited the areas selected for planting to the lower portions of the hills first where the expendi- ture of labour and money is likely to give quicker and more certain results than planting in the upper regions where the results are less satisfactory and slower of accomplishment. These higher portions of the bills it will be time enough to take in hand when planting is complete in those places where better effects are produced. At the same time plantings on a limited scale, but sufficient for the purpose, have been made for experiment in localities where the conditions are as varied as possible, so that when the time arrives for advancing the work into exposed and higher regions a certain amount of experience will have been acquired for guidance in conducting the work, so that unnecessary waste of Government money may be saved in extensive works.

27. No operations on a large scale should be instituted until perfectly reliable practical data have been procured. It is so easy to build up a pleasing theory of apparently possible achievements that many people often fall into the temptation and only find their mistake when a touch of practice upsets all their calculations.

28. Tree planting began in the second week of December 1888, and it was finished in the third week of June of the year under report. The season, in consequence of the rain having been more evenly distributed than usual, was extremely favourable for planting.

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29. Upwards of 9,000 Gum trees, consisting of fourteen species of Eucalyptus were planted on the lands bordering the northern side of Kennedy Road. As stated in par. No. 65 of my report for 1883, species which are indigenous to Queensland were selected as being the most likely to succeed in this climate. They were planted during February and March when they were between six inches and a foot high. Great care was taken in the preparation of the ground for their reception. Scarcely any deaths occurred after planting, and the trees have made very satisfactory progress up to the present, the different species ranging from three to ten feet in height. The places where these trees are planted are fairly well sheltered and the soil is tolerably good. So good results are, however, not to be generally expected here from gum trees. Twenty thousand more gum trees have this year been raised for next year's planting. Most of these will be planted, at the request of the Military Authorities, in the vicinity of the Military Sanitarium at 900 feet above sea level for the expected benefit of the inhabitants of the Sanitarium.