64 



and an addition to the potting shed and store room; also a shed 

 for hold soil, sand and manure. The large boiler that used to be 

 at the Nlursery was carted to the garden and installed as a soil 

 sterilizer. All the work conected with the building-in of the 

 boiler, as well as building the lath house and extra shed room, 

 was done by the regular men at the garden, the wood used being 

 in part from the old nursery fence, in part from the old quarters 

 removed from the Nuuanu Station. 



We have found the sterilizer of great benefit in destroying 

 weeds and insects, etc., that happen to be in the soil. All the 

 soil used for seed boxes and potting at the garden and also at 

 the Nursery, is sterilized. The sterilizing is done by steaming. 

 A grating is placed across the boiler about eight inches from the 

 bottom, the space under the grating being filled with water. The 

 soil is put into the kerosene tins and placed on top of the grating. 

 A close-fitting wooden lid prevents the heat and steam from get- 

 ting out too freely. From three to four hours is sufficient to 

 cook and kill everything in the soil, without harming it. 



We have on hand .a large number of plants new to the Terri- 

 tory, most of which are getting ready to plant out. When the 

 trial ground is finished, the plants will be planted and carefully 

 studied. 



No plants will be allowed to leave the garden until we are 

 absolutely sure that they will not become pests. We do not have 

 any plants so far that are likely to become pests. On the con- 

 trary, they have proved to be beneficial in the countries from 

 wtiiich they were sent. Sometimes, however, plants assume dif- 

 ferent habits when transferred from one country to another 

 sometimes better, but often worse hence the reason for care 

 and study before distributing. 



About a year ago the Honorable A. de Souza Canavarro, Con- 

 sul-General for Portugal, delivered to us a number of cuttings 

 of the basket willow which he received from some of the Portu- 

 guese immigrants. This plant is used for making all sorts of 

 baskets. The cuttings were planted in the garden and are doing 

 exceedingly well. Cuttings will be available for distribution in 

 a few months. They ought to be planted in moist places, prefer- 

 ably along the sides of streams. 



We have a large number of plants at the garden introduced 

 by Mr. Gerrit P. Wilder, which include flowering, forest and 

 fruit trees. Three new varieties of coconuts are also among 

 his introductions. 



A large number of the new and rare plants raised from seed re- 

 ceived from different Botanic Gardens are all worthy of being 

 given a trial, and some of them may become of great value 

 to the Territory. 



