104 
Botanic Gardens, Penang. 
Staff. 
i. — Mr. Fox went on leave on March 23rd, and there being 
no Officer of the Department available to take his place, I was 
placed in temporary charge in addition to my other duties. 
This arrangement continued during the remainder of the year, 
but it could hardly be considered satisfactory. 
The Overseer, Magomed Ha niff, looked after the technical 
work and did it ^extremely Well ; the Gardens were kept by him 
in excellent order, but in the absence of a properly qualified 
European, scientific research made little or no progress. 
In addition to this the Clerk was transferred and a new man 
with no experience of the work took his place. 
The Inspector under the Coconut Trees Preservation Ordinance 
and the Mandor on the Hill died during the year. 
Buildings and Upkeep. 
2. — The office ceiling partially collapsed and if was found 
necessary to make immediate repairs. So much damage had been 
done in the past to the wood flooring by white ants that it was 
decided to put in a cement flooring. A special vote of $1,500 was 
granted by Government and this work was carried out. The roof 
of the building was raised and the whole structure generally 
improved. 
In the plant houses the atap roofing was replaced by ruberoid, 
which has proved quite satisfactory and is more lasting. 
In several of the houses the tables were cemented as a means 
of keeping away the white ants. 
The roads were kept in good repair and the general condition 
of the grounds and buildings reflects great credit on the Overseer 
in charge. 0 
The new rockery near the stream below the wooden rustic 
bridge was practically completed. A large number of ferns have 
been placed there, and a large specimen of the Impatiens Mirabilis 
or Gouty Balsam obtained from the Langkawi Islands added. 
This rockery forms a very pleasant addition to the Gardens. 
Plants. 
3. — No new variety of plant was added to the Gardens during 
the year. The Overseer, however, performed several grafting 
experiments. 
The grafting of the well known “La France” rose on the 
common local variety proved a success, a fine rose with a most 
delicate odour being obtained. Some interesting results were also 
obtained by grafting the violet Allamanda on the yellow variety. 
