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A saving in the cost of some labour has been effected by the abolition of this garden but it will not be more than sufficient to defray the greatly increased cost of the transport of manure, and other new arrangements which have to be made for the gardens in consequence of the loss of this land.
ORCHIDS AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS.
8. Those plants which are too tender to live or thrive through the cold and desiccated air of the winter season and the heavy rains and storms of the wet one, and which are housed, some during the whole and others during a part of the year, in glass-houses provided with artificial heat in winter continue to flourish, but many of them require larger and more suitable structures for their develop- ment and accommodation. The structures in use are situated in the nursery, which is the most convenient place for management and supervision, but the position is one rather inaccessible to visitors, and consequently not taken full advantage of by them. These structures are very suitable for the purposes they were designed for i.e., for the propagation and cultivation of plants in their early life, but artistic and roomy glass conservatories placed in an easily accessible part of the gardens and filled with natures' treasures would afford a delightful promenade, and would be a source of interest and instruction which would, no doubt, be much appreciated by visitors. The structures should be of such an artistic and imposing design that they themselves, as well as the plants within them, would be an attractive feature in the gardens. Their construction would be somewhat costly, but not beyond the means of the colony, and the outlay would probably meet with the general approval of the community.
RAINFALL.
9. The rainfall for the year was 77.62 inches. The daily returns are given in Appendix A.
CORRESPONDENCE.
10. Requests from different parts of the world for information become more numerous year by year. The information sought is both scientific and economic in relation to the flora and vegetable products of China. The economic is chiefly for commercial purposes, the applicants being merchants and others in trade. Whenever possible the required information is given.
DISTRIBUTION AND INTERCHANGE OF PLANTS, &c.
11. The receipts were 231 plants, and 19 lbs. of seeds in 273 packages, and 5 animals. The chief donors were :---
Acclimatizing Association, Southern California.
Bodinier, Rev. E.
Botanic Gardens, Adelaide.
Jamaica.
Bangalore.
Brisbane.
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Demerara.
Grenada.
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11
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Imperial University, Tokio.
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Royal, Calcutta.
19
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Kew. Trinidad.
"
"
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Saharanpur. Sydney.
"
Cundall, C. H., Manila.
Dammann & Co., Italy.
Department of Agriculture, U.S.A.
Dorabjee, Nowrojee.
Hanbury, Marquis, T., Italy. Hawkins, Mrs.
Hill, W., Brisbane.
Hodgins, Capt., S.S. Formosa.
Humphreys, J. D.
Koebele, A., Honolulu.
Lawrence. Bt., Sir Trevor.
Leigh, R. K.
Romano, A. G.
Mueller, Sir F., Melbourne.
Walker, Capt., Hankow.
Bourne, F. S. A.
12. In Exchange 2,267 plants, and 9 fbs. seeds in 142 packages, were distributed. The principal recipients were:-
Acclimatizing Association, Southern California. Agricultural and Botanical Department, Sierra
Leone.
Barton, J.
Botanic Gardens, Brisbane.
British Guiana.
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Jamaica.
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Mauritius.
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Natal.
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19
19
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Palermo, Sicily. Royal, Kew.
Tokio.
O'Brien, Sir G. T. M. Cundall, C. H., Manila.
Trinidad.
Doberck, Dr. W,
Government Civil Hospital.
Hanbury, Marquis T., Italy. Hanham, Major.
Hodgins, Captain.
Holdsworth, C.
Jordan, Dr.
Kowloon Customs.
Mannich, J., Formosa. Price, Hon. J. F., Madras. Richards, Mrs.
Scharff & Shorting, California. Veitch & Sons, J., London. * Walker, Captain, A., Hankow.
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