11 



{Dendrophylax ftmalis). The four lateral rockeries are also seven feet square. Rockeries run round 

 the whole of the inside of the walls, and are 129 feet in length. Several hundreds of ferns have been 

 planted out in the interstices of the rocks. The upright iron posts are covered with the creepers, 



Thunhergia Harrisii, Aristolochia elegans, Asparagus racemosus, Asparagus faloatus, &o. Creepers 

 are planted along the outside and these have now quite covered the house. They are the following : — 

 Tylophora asthmatica, Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, Bignonia venusfa, Hoya carnosa, Argyreia sp. Thunher- 

 gia Harrisii, Thunhergia lattrifolia, Asparagus falcatus, Asparagus racemosus, Passiflora quadrangu- 

 laris, Clitoria Tematea, Antigonon leptopus, Parana paniculata, Aristolochia elegans, Thunhergia 

 alata vars. 



The stock of ornamental plants in pots has been increased by over 2,000. At the Horticultural 

 Show held in the Exhibition Building 100 cartloads of plants were sent from Hope Gardens alone, 

 the plants consisting of 60 large tree ferns, 30 large palms, about 50 large ornamental shrubs, and 

 the rest small palms, ferns, and flowering plants. 



In the old Rose-beds 53 young plants have been put in, to fill the vacancies caused by plants 

 dying out. 



The total length of the roads is three miles, and parts of them have been badly infested with nut 

 grass (Cyperus rotundus) and other weeds causing considerable expense in keeping them clean. 



Some of the coolie labourers are allowed to have unused portions of the grounds for growing 

 vegetables. They eradicate weeds infesting the soil by their careful, clean cultivation ; and they save 

 some expense on the roads by keeping those parts adjoining their plots in thorough order. 



The gutter which takes the waste water from the Water Works has been cleaned throughout its 

 entire length. The small pond which was made at the lower end of the gutter for the purpose of 

 growing water lilies, is not at present answering its purpose, for when water is sent down the gutter, 

 it fills the pond with rubbish and the water weed, Chara. 



The buildings require repairs throughout. A cement ground gutter was recommended to carry 

 off water on two sides of the Superintendent's house, but it has only been made on one side. Q-utter- 

 ing and down pipes have been placed to catch the rain water on the roof. The walls of an old build- 

 ing have been roofed over to serve as a shed for buggy, &c. One half of the old boiling house was 

 thoroughly overhauled, floored, and partitioned off into five servants' rooms. A latrine has also been 

 erected near the nursery for the use of visitors. Three small stalls have been built. 



The followiug are the numbers of plants sold during the year. : — 



Nutmegs 





20,978 



Sisal Hemp 





1,339 



Pine Suckers 





800 



Cola 



• • • 



600 



Oranges 



• •• 



257 



Liberian Coffee 



• • • 



201 



Mangoes 





66 



Cocoa 





64 



Cinnamon 



• •• 



22 



Miscellaneous Fruit and Economic Plants 





724 



Crotons 





2,035 



Palms 



• • • 



1,578 



Roses 



• • • 



1,418 



Ferns 





301 



Orchids 





90 



Miscellaneous Trees and Shrubs 



• •• 



2,866 







33,319 



also sugar canes, about 150 tops. 



Plants have also been distributed free or in exchange to the number of 1,583. 



The rainfall has amounted to 55 , 62 inches during the year ; February was a dry month, only 

 0.88 inches having fallen, and March was even drier with 0.25 inches. 



The elevation of the garden is 600 feet above sea level. The average mean temperature is 77.4® 

 F., and the average rainfall 52 , 83 inches. 



King's House Garden and Grounds. 



Since the year 1886-87 the Annual Vote for this Garden has been £390. When I first took charge 

 of the Department, I called attention to the fact that this sum was insufficient for all that had to be 

 done ; that the road and fences had to be maintained, lawns, pastures, grass-piece and grounds kept 

 clean, and moreover the garden required more than ordinary care and attention. During the last two 

 years, the vote has been relieved of the care of the roads, and it appears to me only right that they 

 should continue to be kept up by the Public Works Department, not alone because the expense of their 

 maintenance encroaches on funds which should be devoted to garden purposes, but also because the 

 roads a 'e used as a public approach to King's House. During the same period special grants have been 



