607 



total rainfall for November at Maxwell's Hill was 40.33 inches, and dur- 

 ng that time work was practically at a standstill and all crops then in 

 the ground were totally ruined. 



6. During the remainder of the year crops were good, particularly 

 peas, tomatoes, beans, carrots, turnips, cabbage, beetroot, celery and 

 leeks. 



Manuring Experiments. 



7. The scarcity of cow manure made it necessary that experiments 

 should be carried on as in 1906, to discover the best and most economi- 

 cal manures to use in the gardens on the hills. Bat guano from the 

 Padang Rengas caves has proved itself to be the best, cheapest and 

 quickest acting of all the manures tried. Large quantities of this guano 

 will be used during this year, and it is hoped that the gardens will 

 soon be considerably improved thereby. Amongst artificial manures, 

 bone meal has proved a lasting and efficient manure. It is one of the 

 cheapest that can be obtained in the Federated Malays States or Colony, 

 and one or two dressings per year shows a marked improvement espec- 

 ially when applied to rose and other flowering plants. 



Preparing and Packing Seeds for Tropical Countries. 



8. During the year I have further proved that it is quite un- 

 necessary to subject flower and vegetable seeds to a special drying 

 process before despatching them from England to tropical countries. 

 The drying process has a detrimental effect on the germinating powers 

 of most seeds. 



9. During the year I made several test sowings which I think prove 

 this. Seeds from ordinary paper packets which had been packed in 

 brown paper parcels were sown at the same time as others which had 

 been spcially dried and packed in hermetically sealed tins, with the 

 result that the former showed a germination of 85 per cent, whilst the 

 latter did not exceed 55 per cent. It seems to me that the only people 

 who benefit from this process are the seed merchants at home, while 

 the buyer suffers by having the germinating power of his seeds consider- 

 ably reduced by the special drying process which he has also to pay for. 



Roses. 



10. There has been an increased supply of roses during the year. 

 Two thousand nine hundred and two bunches were despatched during 

 the year (not including those supplied daily to the different bunga- 

 lows when occupied). Two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight 

 bunches were spplied free and 400 bunches were sold. Two hundred 

 and fourteen rooted cuttings were sold during the year at $5 per 

 dozen. Several thousands of young plants have been raised during 

 the year. These will be used for renewing worn out plants and for 

 sale. The old plants are being gradually rooted out and the beds are 

 being planted up with young plants. I hope to have renewed all 

 these beds by the end of this year. Numerous new beds have been 

 opened up and planted with rose plants. These are principally at the Box, 

 the Cottage and Maxwell's. I am sorry to report that the consignment 



