Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 336

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108. An application, which received the approval of the Government, was made for this Depart- ment to rear a large quantity,-fifteen to twenty thousand, of Gum trees for planting on lands of the War Department. I procured seeds from Australia, and the young seedlings are all doing well. They will be ready to hand over to the Royal Engineers in about a month or two hence. It was arranged that the Royal Engineers should pay for the costs of material and labour used in rearing the

trees.

109. Appendix No. 2 shows the numbers and kinds of trees planted in the year.

110. In Appendix No. 3 I reproduce a most interesting paper by Dr. MAX VON PETTENKOFER on the influence of plants and plantations. This paper will, I think, be perused with much interest at the present time when the sanitation of the Colony is receiving so much attention, Dr. MAX VON PETTENKOFER Shows very clearly the great influence which trees exert in sanitary matters, and their general good effects on the well being of mankind. Some doubt is entertained as to the influence of trees on rainfall, but whether trees attract rain or not, no one can doubt but that they regulate the distribution of water, which is a most important effect. Experiments and experience also prove that trees exert a considerable influence on temperature.

111. From my own experience in Hongkong, which has extended over nearly sixteen years, I have found a reduction of several degrees, more particularly at night, of temperature at the Gardens since trees within the Gardens and in plantations around them have been planted and cast a shade over the surface of the ground. The southwest winds of the summer pass over plantations of trees extending from Victoria Gap to the Gardens before they reach the thermometers from which my observations have been made, and I have little doubt but that in travelling over this distance of tree covered land the temperature is either reduced slightly, or that there is not the augmentation of radiated heat from rocks and soil which there was when the hills were destitute of trees.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

CHARLES FORD, Superintendent,

Botanical & Afforestation Department,

Appendix No. 1.

ON THE CHINESE FAN PALM, GINGER, &c.

At the end of last October I availed myself of an opportunity at San Ui in the delta of the Canton river, and situated about 50 miles south-south-west of Canton, of seeing the cultivation of the Fan Palm, and the manufacture of fans from its leaves, as well as seeing something of the plants of the Ginger family which are cultivated by the Chinese.

FAN PALM.

Although foreigners have frequently visited the San Ui district I believe the fan palm had not been botanically examined, and some uncertainty prevailed as to the species of palm to which it belonged. Flowers and fruits, which are important organs needed in botanical determinations, were absent at the time of my visit, but I carefully examined the plants which I saw in cultivation and the examina- tion led me to the undoubted conclusion that the palm is Livistona sinensis, Mart.

The Rev. B. C. HENRY, who has travelled much in the Kwangtung province, says in his very interesting book "Ling-Nam" that the palm district extends about twenty miles from east to west, and ten miles from north to south.

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It appears that fan palm cultivation is confined to the San Ui district. In reference to this Mr. HENRY says: "That the limitation of this industry is a matter of necessity and not of choice is proved by attempts made at various times to cultivate the palm in other places, attempts that have always resulted in failure."

CX

Judging from the appearance of the country in travelling through the delta the reputed failure of the palm when its cultivation has been attempted in other places than the San Ui district could scarcely be attributed to soil, as everywhere this had much the same appearance of richness and constituency. Knowing the immense influence which winds have on the growth and success of not only delicate plants, but also on the hardiest of trees, it is possible that the uninterrupted sweep of certain winds over the flat lands of the delta, combined with some other minor uncongenial circums- tances, may be the cause of failure of the palm for commercial purposes. The San Ui district is protected by lofty hills to the north and westward, which possibly afford the conditions of shelter that the palm requires for the development of perfect leaves suitable for the manufacture of fans.