57. Materials on loan were both received and sent out. Material 
received amounted to 2,753 specimens, of which 2,600 were Piperaceae from 
the Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia, for Dr. Chew’s study. Nine institutions 
received material from the Herbarium totalling 2,852 specimens of which 
I, 080 went to the Forest Research Institute, Kepong. Particulars are given in 
Appendix VI. 
XXV. TAXONOMIC RESEARCH 
58. Work on the flora continued with studies in the following fields: 
Urticaceae (Nettle family), Piperaceae (Pepper family). Climbing Plants by 
Dr. Chew Wee-Lek; Algae by Mr. H. M. Burkill; Lentinus (Fungi) by Dr. 
Chang Kiaw Lan; the genus Anadendrum by Mr. Hardial Singh. Dr. Chang 
made attempts to cultivate the symbiotic termite mushroom Termitomyces 
but without success. If the proper conditions can be determined culture ought 
to be possible as success has been reported elsewhere. Xylaria, another termite 
fungus, was successfully grown and fruiting bodies obtained. 
59. Mr. Montien Srisuko, Colombo Plan Fellow from the Royal Thai 
Department of Forests, finished his work on Lagerstroemia prior to returning 
home. The two retired members of the staff, Dr. C. X. Furtado and Mr. 
J. Sinclair, who had been working in an honorary capacity for some years, 
worked in the herbarium till April and May respectively, when both left for 
overseas, but their return is expected after a break of several months. 
60. Dr. Chew Wee-Lek was invited to serve on the Standing Committee 
on Pacific Botany of the Pacific Science Association of the University of 
Hawaii in Honolulu. 
XXVI. GARDENS MAINTENANCE 
61. All the mixed borders on Lawn O were dug and compost was 
worked in. Later, chemical fertiliser was added, and the reward was obtained 
in later months with excellent displays of flowers. The secret, which is an 
open one, for successful growing of garden plants in tropical condition where 
soil quickly compacts and root growth is impeded, is unremitting cultivation. 
On Lawns A and B the Canna beds were cultivated and replanted to give 
colour for the December 1967 and January 1968 holiday period. Bougain- 
villeas of Lawns A and B were pruned and manured, and further angle-iron 
supports were put around them. 
62. A hedge outside the fence along Holland Road from the Main 
Gate, and along Tyersall Avenue was planted with Hemigraphis alternata 
and Acalpyha siamensis. Climbers were trained onto the fence using Bougain- 
villea Tshbel Greensmith’, B. ‘Mary Palmer’, B. ‘Killie Cambell’, B. glabra 
39 
