300 



bacco for distribution, secondarily to make a trial of the other varie- 

 ties. With regard to raising plants for seed we are careful to destroy 

 any weakly plants so that the whole of our seeds are raised from 

 strong healthy plants only. 



Logioood. — A plantation 1 chain wide and 3| chains long of British 

 Honduras logwood has been planted. 



Rubber. — The Hevea rubber, now two years old, are from 10 to 15 

 feet high and are looking very healthy. We have also another plan- 

 tation of 126 Castilloa elastica and they are looking fairly well. 



Figs. — The fig cuttings received from Chiswick have grown nicely 

 and are commencing to fruit. 



Correspondence. — The number of letters despatched is 4,598. 



" received " 3,346. 



Buildings. — We are still badly off for buildings and I hope that 

 during the coming year we shall be able to put them up at the ex- 

 pense of the Gafdens, although this is a heavy charge on our finances. 

 We want a new stable and a packing shed. Few people realize what 

 the nursery business is at Hope 



A shelter for visitors is also wanted and will be more so when the 

 Electric Car runs up to Hope. A new glass house is badly needed for 

 seeds. 



Roads. — Fifty-four chains of road have been repaired some twice 

 and thrice over, owing to the heavy October floods. 



Fences. — Sixteen chains of new fence have been made by the side of 

 the road over the conduit and fifty-one thoroughly repaired. 



28 chains of new fence have been made elsewhere. 



A new iron gate has replaced the old lumbering wooden one at the 

 entrance from the Hope Road. 



The Ornamental Section of the gardens has been kept in good 

 order, the only plant calling for any special comment this year being 

 the " Double Poinsettia." 



A Rockery, 2 chains long, four feet in width, has been made to ac- 

 commodate succulent plants 



The following plants have been planted out in their proper places : — 

 2 Nephelium Litchi. 

 1 Shaddock. 



1 Adenanthera pavonina. 

 1 Eugenia malaccensis. 

 1 Mesua ferrea. 

 1 Gynocardia odorata. 

 1 Caesalpinia sappan. 

 1 Barringtonia speciosa. 

 1 Acalypha Wilkesiana. 

 1 Licula elegans. 



1 Licuala spinosa. 



2 Livistona chinensis. 

 2 Raphis flabelliformis. 



Sope Industrial School. — The teaching has been the same as last 

 year and the practical work the same. 



Nursery. — To meet the increased demand for economic and orna- 

 mental plants, shade trees etc., it has been found necessary to still 



