sa-srsass as 
SSAdl ! i.»SS?: £&£* '.' ..»■' « '" ' v *“- 
dices V and VI. 
XX. ISTANA NEGARA DOMAIN 
72. The grounds were upkept in a good condition. A number of trees 
was struck bv lightning and two ( Eugenia grandis, 1, Fagraea fragrans 1) 
were killed and had to be removed. Some 30 flowering trees were planted 
including Cassia spectabilis, Millettia atropurpurea Peltophorum pterocai- 
pum, Spaihodea campanula, Terminalia catappa, Cinnamomum iners and 
Delonix regia. Several clumps of yellow stemmed bamboo were planted on the 
edge of the golf course. As usual the trees, greens and fairways of the course 
were well maintained. An epidemic spread of Elephantopus scaber appeared m 
the fairways. This plant is wind dispersed. The flowering stems are usually 
6-8 inches Jong but under impact of frequent mowing they flowered on inflo- 
rescences only 1-2 inches high which in general escaped cutting by mowers. 
The usual selective weed-killers for broad leaved plants proved unable to kill 
the plant and hand forking and lifting of the tough taproot had to be adopted. 
At various places in the Domain over 30 chains of hedging were planted, a 
half of it Baphia nitida, the balance being Acalypha siamensis and Cordia 
cylindristachya. 
73. It is sad to record that our friend, the bountiful elephant, referred 
to in para. 86 of last year’s report was sent early in the year to the 
Federation of Malaya. For composting it has been necessary to rely on the 
less efficient product of the domestic cow. 
74. The Istana grounds were opened to the public on New Year’s Day 
(1/1/60), Chinese New Year’s Day (28/2/60), Hari Raya Puasa (28/3/60) 
and on Deepavali (19/10/60). 
XXI. ORCHIDS 
75. The collection of species and hybrids continues to expand rapidly. 
Eighty-two numbers of species were collected by Gardens’ staff while on field 
work at Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, in Kedah, on Pulau Langkawi 
and elsewhere. A number was received from outside sources particularly 
from North Borneo, New Guinea and Brunei. Of the species received, 18 
flowered in the nursery and were identified. The collection was also expanded 
by exchange: 230 plants, cuttings and seedlings were given, 240 were received. 
Individuals and organisation concerned are listed in Appendices V and VI. 
76. Fifty-two hybrid pods were harvested from our own nursery, 12 
were received from Singapore growers, four from the Federation of Malaya 
and three from Sarawak. Of these 7 1 pods, 50 proved to be fertile and were 
successfully germinated. Seedlings from 407 flasks reached potting out stage 
and were moved from flasks in the laboratory to pots in the nursery. The 
flask culture medium used, as previously, was based on Vacin’s prescription; 
however the coconut water added was diluted to 10 per cent strength instead 
of 25 per cent. Extensive teratological growth in the flasks of many of the 
families has been ascribed to the presence of an excess of growth regulators 
*5 
/zA 
