Sessional_Paper_1891 — Page 328

324

43. Plantations in the western districts, and near to Bowen and Kennedy Roads, in which the trees had attained sizes when permanent trees would be injured by having others growing too near them were thinned, after the trees were marked by foresters, by the contractor who bought the thin- nings. Upwards of 16,000 trees were thus removed and sold.

44. The revenue obtained from the sale of forestry products was $547.34.

45. Plantations should be thinned, as a rule, when they are about 10 years old, and as this is the eleventh year since planting was begun on a large scale, the plantations will demand each year henceforth very considerable extra attention to their requirements, which, as I have said above, it will be difficult or impossible to give with the present overworked staff unless some other things which should be carried on simultaneously are permitted to suffer.

Burial Grounds.

46. The hygienic treatment of burial grounds being under the consideration of the Government it may serve a useful purpose to keep in prominent view the important position which arborescent and other vegetation should occupy in any scheme that may be devised for sanitary or æsthetic improve- ments of the cemeteries of the Colony.

47. The action of the roots of plants being to convert into health-giving, living, vegetable matter the decomposing animal and vegetable substances of the soil, and the functions of the leaves of plants being to absorb injurious gases which emanate from the soil, there can be no doubt that provision should be made for the encouragement of the growth of vegetation in the forms of trees, shrubs, and grass-turf around and within all burial grounds.

48. In 1876 I planted the old Chinese Cemetery near Belcher's Bay, and since that time I have planted lands wherever practicable close up to the boundaries of cemeteries, but on account of some real or imaginary objection of the Chinese to trees being planted within the grave-yards none have been placed there since 1876. However, if proper places could be found for trees, there would pro- bably not be even sentimental objections to them. Therefore in any contemplated improvements or extensions of cemeteries it would seem most desirable to include in the schemes due provision for the introduction of trees, &c., which might serve the double purpose of assimilating unhealthy matter and of screening the grounds from view from without their limits.

Planting of the Gathering Grounds of Reservoirs.

49. In C.S.O. No. 148 I suggested that the opinion of the Honourable OSBERT CHADWICK might be obtained on the subject of planting lands within the gathering grounds of reservoirs, and at the request of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government Mr. CHADWICK submitted the opinion as follows, which I think it would be useful to record in this place:-

"1. I see no objection to the planting of Bamboos along the road leading from the Peak Tramway "to Craigieburn. Indeed, I believe that it will be beneficial to the water supply, by tending to con- "solidate the soil.

“2. I am of opinion that planting may be carried on within the gathering grounds of reservoirs "without prejudice to the quality of the water.

"3. My experience in the West Indies leads ine to this conclusion. The gathering ground from "which the St. George's Waterworks, Grenada, derives its supply, is a dense tropical forest; so much "so that a cutlass is required to make a way through it. Nevertheless the water is excellent.

"4. The following is an extract from a report on the analysis of two samples of water from this source by the Professor of Chemistry and Agricultural Science at Barbados.

"5. The chemical examination shewed that both these waters are soft waters and of great purity. "The minute proportion of chlorine nitrogea in nitrites, ammonia, albuminoid ammonia and the absence "of phosphates in both samples prove that, they are not contaminated with sewage or manurial filth. "No. 2 is slightly the purer of the two being free from almost all traces of vegetable matter.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

"And I consider both these waters to be of very high organic purity and well suited for a town supply. "6. I am of opinion that moderate planting within the Pok-fu-lam gathering ground will be "beneficial to the water supply by consolidating the ground and thus neutralising the evils which have "arisen from the extensive earth movements within this area.

*7. The plants suitable for the purpose will be those of rapid growth having strong and compact roots which will consolidate the ground and tend to strain out clay and mud brought down by the "rain.

"8. The most suitable places for planting are:--

46

a. Slopes of made-ground especially near to the toe.

"b. The margin of the rivulets and water courses which feed the reservoir.

"c. The margin of the paths, especially on the lower side, and near to the points where the

"rain flows off from their surfaces.

"9. I do not recommend planting in the immediate vicinity of the reservoir itself, where the leaves "could be blown into the water; say within 100 yards from the reservoir.

66

10. Bamboos will no doubt be suitable and could be quickly established. The bamboo-grass "also might be tried. It will be well also to restore the natural dwarf scrub if it will grow again. "The ordinary fir, planted in moderation in clumps here and there, would be suitable. It would be "well to avoid trees which have large deciduous leaves.