Supplement to this Day's Issue. 
EOTAL BOTANIC GAEDENS. 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR FOR 1891. 
1.— Movements of the Staff. 
The Directoi', by permission of His Excellency the Governor, visited in the early part of the 
year the Botanic Gardens at Singapore and at Buitenzorg (Java), being absent on that duty from 
February 27 to April 5. I had long desired to have an opportunity of examining the two principal 
botanical establishments in Malaya, and especially the great scientific institution kept up by the 
Government of the Dutch Indies. During this short visit I acquired much new information, and 
made many useful additions to our collections, as will be seen in this report ; and I may add here 
a few notes as to the character of the two Gardens in general. 
There is little to be said about that at Singapore, which is situated close to the town, and has 
to fulfil somewhat of the part of a public park as well as of a scientific garden. Both aspects are 
well carried out : there is more ornamental gardening than we are accustomed to see in Ceylon, 
the turf is well kept, and the flower-beds very neat for a tropical climate, whilst there is a large and 
valuable collection of rare Malayan plants. The ground for the experimental culture of economic 
plants is separated by some distance from the Garden itself, which is a very good arrangement. The 
Director has under him a European Head Gardener and two or three good native assistants ; and 
lias also charge of branch gardens, each under a trained English gardener, at Penang and Malacca. 
The Herbarium and Library are being rapidly extended and improved. 
The Dutch botanical establishment at Buitenzorg is of a different character from this or any 
English one, not even excepting Kew, and is maintained entirely on a scientific basis. The 
Director has the control of all the six departments into which the institution is divided, as 
follows : — 1, the Herbarium, Library, and Museum ; 2, the Botanical Laboratory ; 3, the Experi- 
mental Garden and Laboratory for Agricultural Chemistry ; 4, the Pharmacological Laboratory ; 
5, the Botanic Gardens ; 6, the Photographic Institution. Each of these departments is under the 
immediate management of a highly trained scientific or technical chief from Holland, and most of 
these have also an assistant. There is thus a very large staff of Europeans. The Laboratories, 
Library, &c., are completely stocked, and kept fully up to the time, and eA-erything is provided for 
close investigation and original research in all branches of botanical study. Many students are thus 
attracted from Europe, and the Laboratories aft'ord accommodation for a considerable number of 
Avorkers. A valuable serial publication, the " Annales du Jard. Buitenzorg," is issued at intervals, 
devoted to scientific botany, and another one, " Teijsmannia," occupied Avitli economic and garden 
subjects. 
The Botanic Gardens themselves at Buitenzorg occupy betAA^een 60 and 70 acres, at an eleva- 
tion of about 800 ft., Avith a fine soil and abundant Avater, and are Avell protected by a high iron 
railing and a barbed Avire fence. Neai'ly the whole is occupied by a classified arboretum, each 
Natural Order being isolated by a road or path. The collection is extremely rich, and every species 
is elaborately labelled Avith upright labels made of the very hard Avood of EnHi(h'ro.r//Joii, Avhich is 
never attacked by tei-mites. The Avhole is noAV much too croAvded, and cannot be said to be of 
much beauty, but is of course extremely convenient for scientific study. Connected Avith Buiten- 
zorg is a small Hill-garden at Tijbodas, 1,700 ft., also undei' a European superintendent, Avliere is 
also a house for the Director and a laboratory and accommodation for four students. 
The Experimental Garden (Cultuur-tuin) is about two miles from the main Garden, and is 200 
acres in extent, but is not all at present occupied. It is laid out in square plots, each devoted to one 
product ; large labels at each corner.give the name, date of soAving or planting, and other information. 
Here are very jnany plants of great interest. Though a large distribution of seeds and plants is 
made to planters and others, no charge is made for anytliing. 
