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24. The Garden staff has worked fairly well throughout the year, but a high standard of efficiency is not to be expected. The ordinary Chinese Gardener has no knowledge of the physical laws that govern the actions of vegetable life, although they cultivate many of the plants of their native country with wonderful success; but in dealing with foreign plants that require to be carefully studied till the conditions necessary for their acclimatization are understood, they show little interest. They in fact frequently neglect such plants, unless a rule of thumb practice can be laid down for their guidance. It is a hard matter to interest a Chinese Gardener in an experimental attempt to propagate or cultivate a plant which must be subjected to a process different to that which he has been accustomed to practise. This class of men could hardly be expected to understand an explanation of the physical laws that bear upon horticulture as a science; but Mr. FORD has endeavoured for some years back to pro- cure a better class of workmen by training up boys as apprentices, and educating them upon a broader principle than that usually followed in China; but although this system has been fairly satisfactory in one or two cases, it has not been wholly successful. The training which the boys receive sharpens their intelligence and gives them educational advantages that make them aspire to a position more lucrative and, from their point of view, more dignified than that of a "fa-wong." Several promising lads have left in this way just as they were begining to be useful. This of course is very disappointing, and I am afraid that no other result can be anticipated in future, unless the intelligence of the trained appren- tices is remunerated at its market value.
25. Government House.-A number of plants, chiefly Palms and Arvids, were planted out on the bank below the northern side of Government House. The fence which supports the creepers on the top of the bank has been extended for seventy yards farther on the walk, and the plants on the older portion have all been cut back and replaced with a view to more uniformity.
Were the necessary
funds available, great improvements could be effected on the ground just within the wall at the eastern bend of Upper Albert Road. The appearance of this part is a constant eye-sore, owing to the rough nature of the ground and the constant litter of bamboo leaves. The bamboo is very effective in isolated clumps, but its predominance in a garden or pleasure-ground is objectionable from an artistic point of view and injurious to the developement of the other trees and shrubs that were planted with the intention of contributing to and improving the general effect.
26.
AFFORESTATION.'
The planting of China Pines was commenced on December 3rd, 1884, and completed on the 16th of May, 1885. They were planted in the following localities:-Kowioon, North of Butts; Obser- vatory; Black Mountain; Aberdeen Hills; Mount Kellet; and below Mount Gough Road. The total number planted is 342,302.
27. A number of seedling Pines were raised in sites in the following localities:-Mount Davis, Mount Kellet, the New Military Sanitarium, and Saiwan, 204,837 plants being successfully raised. A large number of sites, probably one fifth of those made on the southern side of Mount Kellet, were unproductive. The soil in this locality is rather variable, and the failures chiefly occur on the steep slopes where the grass is scanty. Where the ground is covered with a fibrous carpet of grass roots, the rain, as it rushes down the slopes, is absorbed in sufficient quantities to saturate the soil and render it suitable for the reception and subsequent developement of the young tree; but where the ground has been denuded of its herbage by the irrepressible grass cutter with his blunt sickle, which does not cut but uproots the grass, the young tree is sorely handicapped in the struggle for existence.
28. 150 Catties of Pine seeds were sown broadcast on the hill south of the Little Hongkong estuary. A large number of seedlings have sprung up, but in rather irregular patches. It would be premature however, to pronounce upon the issue of this experiment at present. The result will be more apparent next year.
29. Some Bischoffias and Camphors were planted on Mount Davis. Camphors and Cork Oaks were also planted on the hills above the Powder Magazine. These have all done well.
30. Fourteen species of Eucalyptus were raised in various quantities and planted out in the following localities:-New Military Sanitarium; above Powder Magazine; and at Sokonpò. The total number planted being 16,398. Each species was planted in a clump, and marked with a ticket to enable us to identify the different kinds, and note their relative adaptability to the soil and climate of Hongkong. This comparison has been very interesting, and will be valuable in enabling us to select the most suitable kinds in future. The three species that are conspicuously superior to the others, and which may be considered an unqualified success, are E. robusta, citriodora, and tereticornus. The next in order are:-marginata, platyphylla, corymbosa, resinifera, and haemastoma. These five kinds have not done so well on the exposed hills near the Military Sanitarium as the three first mentioned kinds, but they have succeeded very well at Sokonpò where the position is more sheltered; and I have no doubt that they will succeed in many of the unexposed parts of the island. Other four species, namely: Stuartiana; siderophloia; Microcorys; and maculata have grown moderately well. The per- centage of deaths is small, but the growth is slow and weakly. They evidently required a richer soil than the above mentioned sorts. The two species that have been least successful are pilularis, and hemephloia. A large proportion of both kinds have died, and those that have survived have not a pro- mising appearance.
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31. The plantations of Cassia Lignea' that were made on the hills north of Aberdeen would probably have been in a thriving condition by this time but for the persistence of the Chinese in breaking
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