Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 618

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Cotton. The cotton trials of 1905 were inconclusive on account of the damage to the crop by gales and rain, and another experiment was made in 1906 with 5 varieties of Indian Cotton. The seeds were sown in April in the richest ground obtainable and every precaution was taken to secure a successful crop. Germination, however, was so poor that only a few plants resulted. A check experiment in the Botanic Gardens under the best conditions had the same result. It must therefore be presumed that the seeds, for some unknown cause, were bad. I have since learned that all the cotton trials on the Castle Peak Estate have been failures. Being most reluctant to finally abandon these important experiments, still another consignment of seed has been asked for from India, this time from the Inspector-General of Agriculture.

Rice.-On making enquiries about Rice cultivation in the Colony for the information of the Imperial Institute it was found that 19 different kinds are recognized by the farmers, who consider it of the highest importance to use the right sort for each season and for each class of locality. Thus Ham Man Kuk is used only in brackish fields and only for the 2nd crop, no other variety is supposed do so well under these conditions. Each has its special use and, where more than one variety is suitable for the sowing of a given field, choice is guided by the market demand. Many of the different kinds are easily distinguished in seed either husked or entire but the greater number cannot be separated apart even by the farmers when compared in seed.

The seed rice from each field and each seasonal crop in that field is said to be carefully preserved for the sowing of the same field next year. The names are as follows:-

CHINESE

CHINESE

No.

FIRST CROP.

No.

SECOND CROP.

NAME.

NAME,

1

(Tso) No Kuk.

早糯谷

8

2

Fa Lo Pak Kuk.

花羅白谷

Chuk Chim No Kuk, Tai No Kuk.

竹粘糯谷

大糕 糯谷

3

Tso Wo Kuk.

早禾谷

10

Sz Miu Chin Kuk.

苗粘谷

4

Ngan Tsui Mo Kuk.

牛咀毛容

11

Chim Chai Kuk.

5

(Shang Shing Chim)

12

Ham Man Kuk.

省城粘谷

Kuk.

13

San Chung .Kuk.

仔

問

新種谷

6

No Kan Kuk.

糯間谷

14

Ma Pau Kam Kuk.

麻包錦

7

Ma Pau Kam.

麻包錦

15

Ngai Chai Chek Kuk.

矮仔赤

16

Wu No Kuk.

烏糯谷

17

Pun Tin Wan Kuk.

半天雲谷

18

Pat Ut Pak Kuk.

白 甘谷

2444 44

#

19

Pat Kuk.

白谷

The kinds usually grown here are Nos. 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 19 of which 7, 10 and 14 command the highest prices. No Kuk is the kind generally used for making the glutinous rice required for the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

Agricultural Assessments.-Several small farms were resumed by the Government in New Kowloon during the year in connection with the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The assessment of the value of the garden and other stock upon them was undertaken by this department. The matter proved most troublesome in consequence of the absence of all trustworthy evidence as to the real local value of the plants. The safest basis to work upon in these cases is the initial cost of stocking similar farms.

Rattan.--An enquiry was received in May from the Director of the Imperial Institute for the wholesale prices of stripped canes (rattans) of small diameter. Quotations were invited through the Government Gazette and individual inquiries were made of 122 rattan dealers in Victoria and outlying villages. Besides such manufacturers as may have written to London independently, 15 tenders were forwarded to the Imperial Institute by this department. The opportunity was taken of obtaining some details of the manufacture of the canes and sending them, with a specimen of the primitive machine used, for the Imperial Institute Museum.