Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 329

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wanted for dried specimens, but if the tree blossoms again this year. which there is every reason to expect it will do, the flowers will be left on the tree and fertilized for the production of fruit which will no doubt succeed the flowers.

26. BAMBOO.-In my annual report for 1882 I stated that I had brought together in one collec- tion twenty-five kinds of bamboos. These have continued to do well, and some further additions have been made. I hope whenever there is an opportunity to still further increase the collection. The bamboos of China are of great interest and utility and many of them are probably unknown to science. It is impossible to assign them to their true places in systematic botany until flowers are obtained from which a complete and satisfactory study of them can be made. The bamboo flowers at such long intervals that if we trust to travellers being able to furnish the desired flowering specimens the day will be very far distant when the study will have made much progress. One reason why, the different kinds should be cultivated in these Gardens, is that when flowers are produced they can be immediately secured for investigation.

27. A year or two ago Dr. MACGOWAN kindly sent me specimens of the very interesting square stemmed bamboo, but unfortunately they did not survive the passage. When he was passing through the Colony recently Dr. MACGOWAN was good enough to promise to send me a further consignment, I hope, therefore, to have the plant in cultivation shortly.

28. While writing this note on bamboos I have received a letter froin Mr. DYER, the Director of Kew Gardens, in which he says in reference to this very subject: "The Chinese species of this group are very badly known. There is a kind with large leaves which is used for lining tea chests, but about which nothing else is known. It would be a most important thing to take up vigorously the study of bamboos and procure specimens whenever they are to be met with in flower."

29. TREE TOMATO.—(Cyphomandra betacea).-Vigorous plants which grew from seeds sent me by Mr. MORRIS, the late Director of the Jamaica Botanical Department, produced a crop of fruit during the summer, but heavy rains which occurred at the time so seriously damaged the plants that the fruit did not mature properly. I fear that the saturated condition of the soil during the rainy season will prevent this useful plant being successfully grown in the Colony. In the drier, and more sandy soil of Kowloon, however, it is possible that it may succeed.

30. DILLENIA SPECIOSA.--An Indian tree which was introduced about ten years ago bore a heavy crop of fruit. In India the fruit is used for tarts. That which the tree bore was found to be a fairly good substitute for apples, which it somewhat resembled.

31. VITIS MARTINII (?)-The Cochin-China vine again yielded a very heavy crop of fruit. This has received a good deal of attention in America where it is being experimented with as a new wine producer. For this purpose it has been spoken of favourably. It is possible that in some climates which are unsuitable for the cultivation of the grape-vine this one might be of considerable service, I tried the fruit in tarts, and the flavour was found to be good and palatable, but the large seeds are objectionable; however, it is possible that this drawback might be diminished in time by cultivation. The large leaves of the plant give it a distinguished and ornamental appearance which is an additional recommendation for its finding a place in tropical gardens, if not even in hot-houses of temperate. climates.

32. Government HOUSE GROUNDS.--When these were laid out many years ago they were planted with such things as could be most readily secured, but unfortunately the selection and variety of trees chosen was in consequence not so good as desirable. From time to time a good many objectionable trees have been removed and replaced with others of a more ornamental character, amongst them being a large number of palms and some conifers. These have all done well and greatly improved the appearance of the garden. There is still a large number of trees, notably the very common banians and clumps of bamboos, which mar the effect and effectually stand in the way of further improvements which ought to be made without delay.

33. PLANT SALES.-The demand for plants continues to steadily increase. During the year 1918 plants were sold, and they realised $409.35, which is an excess of $137.50 over the sales for 1885. The sales would have been greater if the supply had been equal to the demand. Means are not adequate for the cultivation of certain kinds of plants, but I hope that a re-arrangement of nursery appliances, and an extension of the ground which will be effected this year will place us in a better position to meet public requirements, and a growing taste for plants. A Glass-house fifty feet long is in course of construction, when finished it will be used for propagation and growth of delicate plants which in the early stages of growth require its protection. A new Catalogue of Plants for sale in 1887 has been printed.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE OF PLANTS AND SEEDS.

34. The total number of plants and trees distributed was 6,771, and of packets and bags of seeds 180 weighing about 40 lbs. Of the trees and plants 1,918 were sold, 2,800 supplied free to the Royal Engineers for planting at the new forts, 800 given to various Police Stations and planted at the Govern- ment Hospital new grounds, and the balance, 1,253, were distributed in exchange.