230 



-4he roots of plants. The chemical changes produced by the burning of clay- 

 are greater solubility of its constituents in water and acids ; clay slightly 

 burned has been found to contain more than three times the quantity of 

 soluble potash that it does in its natural state. When clay is burned, the 

 heat should not be too great ; and the burning should be effected by a smoul- 

 dering process, somewhat resembling that in making charcoal. The clay 

 should never be so far b iked as to be reduced to a hard red brick sub- 

 stance; but on the contrary, the lumps of burned clay should crumble 

 readily.' 



Plants distributed. — " The number of plants sold during the year amounted 

 to 512, and of Tree Tomato fruits 72J dozens, weighing 314 lbs. 



"The numbers are as follows ; — 



Sold. — Economic plants (including Fruit) ... 61 



Ornamental ... ... 451 



Free Grants — Economic ... 64 



Ornamental ... ... 1,047 



Total Economic plants distributed ... 125 



" Ornamental " " ... 1,498 



Total number of plants distributed ... 1,623 



Seeds distributed. — Chocho fruits ... 72 



Grias cauliflora ... ... 50 



Tea Seeds ... . ... 350 



Lemon Seeds ... ... 9u0 



Miscellaneous Seeds ... 50pkts. 



" The elevation of the Garden is 4,900 feet above sea-level. The average 

 annual mean temperature is 62° 7 F., and the average annual rainfall 

 105.31 inches for 24 years. The amount of rain that fell during the year wai 

 117.87 inches; April, May, September and October being the wettest 

 months, and March and August the driest. 



" The mean temperature for the year was 61 . 4 F. The meteorological 

 tables for the different months are given in Appendix V, page 248. 



The number of letters received— 625, despatched- -900." 



KING'S HOUSE GARDEN AND GROUNDS. 



Mr. W. Thompson was in charge of this Garden from April 1st, 1894 to 

 January 8th, 1895, and the following is his Report for that time : 



" A length of six chains of the driving road has been dug up, soil and 

 gravel carted on and it has been raised from six to eighteen inches higher 

 to prevent water settling on the road as it had previously done. 



" Other parts of the road, have been dug up, re-metalled and the whole 

 road has been well rolled. The sides of the road have been kept clear of 

 weeds. 



" A length of sixteen chains of the border that used to be too high has 

 been dug out, the sub-soil taken out and carted away, and the good soil 

 lowered from one to two-and-a-half feet to bring it down on a level with 

 the rest. Six chains of border have been raised from six to twelve inches 

 higher. 



" Two hundred of the smaller palms and trees about the garden and 

 grounds have had the soil about them trenched and manured. 



" Several palms and trees have been planted in the Palmetum and Ar- 

 boretum. 



" The walk running parallel with the dining hall has been widened two 

 feet and some parts of it have been lowered and other parts raised. 



