ENG-1947 — Page 79

area was never used as an airfield; it is too small for modern aircraft and is in a pocket in the hills. Early in 1947 it was taken over by the Agricultural Department to be developed as an experimental and demonstration station. Much of the ground was in poor condition, bulldozers having removed the silt from the top and exposed the gravels which lay beneath. During the war a small part was cultivated by landless people or by neigh- bouring farmers, but it was difficult for them to obtain adequate water supplies and the soil was very infertile.

The Department could only use a small portion immediately, so arrangements were made to let out land to villagers on a year's tenancy at the extremely low rental of six catties of paddy per mow per crop (4.8 mow-one acre). Early activities of the Department included the building of a temporary dam and the digging and cleaning of water channels; in consequence, three- quarters of the area was put under rice for the second crop. Assistance was also given to the farmer by providing cheap fertilizer.

During the year the Department planted areas with elephant grass, Guinea grass, Tientsin green bean, sweet potato, papaya, and banana, and several acres were devoted to controlled experiments with local and imported rices using different quantities of fertilizers and different mixtures. A fish pond was constructed and stocked with nearly 2,000 carp of several species; successful experiments were also tried of growing common carp in the paddy fields together with the growing rice. In the autumn, an area was set aside for vegetable cul- tivation and many thousands of cabbages, cauliflower, lettuce, More than 3,000 tomato etc. of selected varieties were grown. plants were planted out and a heavy crop of fruit has been borne.

On one occasion in December, more than 130 farmers from different parts of the Territories visited the station where the nurseries, the use of fertilizers, the vegetable plots and fish ponds were demonstrated, and seedlings and sample fertilizer mixtures distributed. Many farmers took notes of what interested them most. Several thousands of tomato and other seedlings of selected kinds have been distributed to school children and others throughout the Colony.

Rinderpest.

Due to its close proximity to China and to the daily passage of beef animals on the hoof into the Colony, there is always the chance of an outbreak of rinderpest. This has proved a scourge in the New Territories and, in a single week, by killing his draught animals, has reduced many a farmer from poverty to penury. Diseases of pigs and of poultry have on occasions caused havoc. Prior to the war nothing was done to assist the farmer, but after the war, with the lower cattle population, it was imperative that action should be taken if possible. Willing co-operation and help has been given by the veterinary officers of the Urban Council, and the Dairy Farm has very

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