02 THE PLAIs^T WOELD. 



Mr. Ford, ^^•ho a few years ago was succeeded by Mr. S. T. Dunn, 

 formerly of Kew. 



The garden is prettily situated on the slope of the Peak, a 

 mountain rising steeply from the narrow strip of shore, on which 

 the City of Victoria or Hongkong is Luilt. The view from the 

 garden terraces over the harbor is exquisite, and one delights in 

 walking through its interesting collection of mainly Chinese 

 plants. These prevail, but many exotic trees and shrubs are 

 doing well. One of the most interesting trees here is Llhoce- 

 drus macrolepis, a somewhat recent introduction from the inte- 

 rior of China. A very big Banyan tree was noticed. The cam- 

 phor tree finds a congenial climate here. 



In the middle of the garden stands a statue of a former gov- 

 ernor of Hongkong, and on the terrace below is a fountain, sur- 

 rounded by flower beds. A well-kept plant house contains a nice 

 collection of ferns and orchids. 



In one part of the garden is the superintendent's house and 

 the herbarium building. The collection of dried plants, which 

 was shown me by Mr, Dunn, is the most complete Chinese her- 

 barium in existence. The superintendent frequently makes ex- 

 peditions into China and native collectors bring in specimens at 

 intervals. 



The severe typhoon of September 22nd, lOOfi, had worked 

 great havoc in the garden, broken off many fine trees aud up- 

 rooted others. At the time of my visit, in ISTovember, traces of 

 the damage w^ere still noticed. One week's stay in Hongkong 

 made me fairly well acquainted with its interesting little botanic 

 garden, which in natural location probably has no equal in the 

 world, situated as it is on the steep mountain side above the sea. 



Winter barley is as yet l)ut little grown in this country. 

 That it should be wherever possible is shown by the result of Go\'- 

 ernment tests which have been made, which show a .10 ]ier cent, 

 increase of yield over that of spring l)arley. 



