HO 



the following day by the writer, Assistant Superintendent, Botanic 

 Gardens, Singapore, who remained in charge of the Gardens for the 

 remainder of the year. 



MOHAMED Haniff was on leave for three months from the 17th 

 June, this being his first leave after 18 years' service. 



The check roll shows much broken time, due to Fever and acute 

 Diarrhoea, but equally or possibly more, to slight feverish symptoms 

 which disincline a cooly to turn out without the incentive of muster- 

 ing on the spot, and this is unavoidable as the lines have been 

 placed one mile distant from the Gardens with the object of 

 obtaining good sanitation. 



The Year's Work. 



2. Despite these changes a large programme of work has been 

 carried out, an important item of which was the increased mainten- 

 ance and renewal of stock consequent on large sales of palms and 

 general decorative plants. This will be better understood if I say 

 that the revenue collected by sales amounted to $1,111.24, which 

 constitutes a record in the revenue return of these gardens. The 

 highest returns previously recorded were $974 in 1897, and $1,014 

 in 1894. 



3. Inadequate accommodation has always been the drawback to 

 the maintenance and renewal of stock but on the representation of 

 Mr. Fox an acre of land has been purchased at the Garden entrance 

 and this difficulty will disappear. It will now be possible to maintain 

 small lots of fruit trees and other useful economic plants. In this 

 direction the most notable additions include Palaquium oblongi folium, 

 or getah taban, raised from seeds obtained within the Garden, and 

 although only three trees fruited the crop was exceptionally heavy ; 

 and although 3,670 seeds sold to the Conservator of Forests, and 

 500 seeds to the Government of Mauritius, a batch of 1,550 seedlings 

 was reserved for the Gardens. Hevea braziliensis practically failed 

 as a seed-crop, 4,700 seeds were sold and 250 seedlings raised. 

 Other additions include 200 nutmegs, 300 durians, and a few 

 mangosteens. Of other economics of which specimens only were 

 received the following may be cited : — West Indian Bread-nut 

 (Artocarpus nuciferd), Australian fodder grass (Paspalum dilatatum), 

 ten species of Bow string Hemp, Sanseviera (species), Bornean 

 Lemon (Citrus sp), Eugenia uniflora, Eugenia braziliensis, Anona 

 reticulata, Psidium guava (Trinidad), and some good varieties of 

 bananas and pineapples. 



Free Issues. 



4. Trees and shrubs were supplied free to the Supreme Court 

 grounds, District Hospital Government Quarters, and Residency; 

 the latter also received a miscellaneous selection of pot plants. A 

 small lot of seeds was given to the Pulau Tikus College. 



