To seek out the miscreant all had to be dismantled and the work progressed 
till long after midnight, but without avail. Several of the catering staff were 
pressed into a “killer squad” with torch and knife should it give tongue 
during the banquet. Fortunately the wise frog took note and kept quiet. 
46 As is customary pot plants were loaned to Government departments, 
schools statutory boards, community centres and charitable institutions for 
special functions. A total of 6,271 pots were so loaned. The figure for 1966 
was 4.375, and the increased demand, while being greatly welcomed, has 
necessitated diversion of some Gardens labour to nursery work. 
47 Cut orchid flowers were sent to the following places for exhibition: 
(1) Delhi Agri-horticultural Society, New Delhi, India. 
(2) Bombay Agri-horticultural Society, Bombay, India. 
(3) Birmingham and Midland Orchid Society, Birmingham, England. 
(4) Special, Orchid Exhibition of the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow 
Scotland. 
(5) The North of England Horticultural Society Spring Show, Harro- 
gate, England. 
(6) Mostra Internazional del Fiore (International Flower Show) 
Trieste, Italy. 
The exhibit at the North of England Horticultural Society show was awarded 
a Certificate of Merit. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Messrs. B.O.A.C. 
and Air India for transport facilities. 
XXI. PLANT SALES SERVICE 
48. The revenue for plant sales amounted to: Plants and seeds, other 
than orchids, $5,838.80 on a total of 17,250 plants; orchids, $9,486, on 3,357 
plants Total plant sales revenue was $15,324.80. The sale of plants other 
than orchids was up on last year’s sale by $2,600 which may be ascribed to 
a greater public interest in Singapore in gardening and household decoration. 
The orchid sales were appreciably lower than last year, primarily due to 
the Gardens inability to to participate in the main agri-horticultural shows 
in Malaysia at which the Gardens customarily sold plants, and to the forma- 
lities in the import of plants into Malaysia from Singapore. 
49. Here-to-fore, plants, except for bulky ones, had been sold lifted 
from the beds and soil-free, or as seedlings established in used milk or 
cigarette tins. This practice was stopped and the majority of material was 
from early in 1967 sold as established plants in plastic bags. Thus plants 
could be sold without uprooting and so could be replanted in the purchaser s 
garden with a greatly improved chance of survival. The plant sa es is was 
revised and several additions were made to it. 
50. The Nursery Gate was opened to cars for purchasers to reach the 
Plant Sales office and the roadway within the Nursery was metalled. 
37 
