only one rather poor flowering at its main flowering period, December, after 
the rains had come. The Sealing Wax Palm (Cytostachys lakka) avenue also 
suffered during the drought. The leaves shrivelled but no causitive pathogen 
could be found (see Annual Report 1961, para. 58), and in severe cases the 
whole stem would die. As soon as normal rainfall was experienced, the plants 
recovered. This plant occurs naturally in damp places. 
40. Forty established plants died or were removed, the most important 
being Cocothrinax barbadensis, Lodoicea seychellarum, Brownea arize and 
Sabal blackburniana. The Gardens have for very many years been trying to 
establish plants of the Seychelles Double Coconut ( L . seyechellarum) but have 
been unsuccessful, the plant’s succumbing to attack by Red Stripe Weevil. 
With nuts weighing up to 50 lb. each, this palm would be an extremely 
interesting novelty to establish. In olden times, it was so venerated in its native 
home for its anthropomorphic attributes that it became a royal plant, and a 
capital offence was committed if a commoner cultivated one. 
41. Lawn L by Cluny Road gate, which is the first part of the Gardens 
many visitors see, was cleared of a large Rhodamnia trinerva tree and a 
Pandanus houlletii clump, and the whole lawn planted up with bougainvilleas 
including several newly introduced cultivars. The established, older plants 
were most spectacular during the dry weather. Other new plantings on various 
lawns included: Cassia ‘Rainbow Showers’, Gardenia carinata, Cassia 
spectabilis, Bresia madagascariensis, Polythia clavegra, Eugenia papuasicum, 
Enterolobium contortisilicum, Cassia ‘Blue’, Eugenia caryophyllata, Lafoensia 
punicaefolia, Mimusops elengi, Ervatamia sphaerocarpa, Sapium jamaicense, 
Aglaia odorata, Fagraea ridleyi and Andira surinamensis. 
42. When the rains finally did come in November, an extensive manuring 
programme was carried out of 280 trees and shrubs on Lawns A, B, C, D, E, 
J, K and L. Also 46 compost heaps were prepared using 40 lorry loads of 
cattle manure. Over 800 wooden plant labels, 5,000 aluminium tag labels and 
38 signboards were prepared during the year. 
43. Monkeys {Macacus nemestrina). Rhinoceros beetle ( Oryctes rhino- 
ceros) and the Red Stripe Weevil ( Rhyncophorus ferrugineus ) remain the 
worst pests, but the latter two seem to be on the decline. 
44. The low water level in the Lake gave the opportunity for further 
eradication of the lotus ( Nelumbium nelumbo ) which if unchecked would 
smother all the other water plants. At the same time the Salvinia auriculata 
was collected and removed from the Lake. 
45. The heavy rain of December, 14.11 inches, which was 21 per cent 
of the year’s rainfall and 142 per cent of the normal for this month, led to an 
outbreak of fungal and bacterial diseases in the orchid collection. Some 
quarter-terete vandas were affected by Phytophthera palmivora, and 
dendrobiums by Pectobacterium carat ovorum. 
XXI. HORTICULTURAL EXCHANGE 
46. Seed and plant exchange continued to be an important aspect of 
the Horticultural Division’s activity. Exchanging institutions are listed in 
Appendices VII and VIII. 
Oj% 
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