I. ORGANISATION 
1. The botanical and horticultural divisions which functioned separately in 
1969, were integrated into one unit on 1st March, 1970. 
II. STAFF 
2. Mr. A. G. Alphonso was appointed Acting Director with effect from 1st 
March, 1970, following the resignation of Dr. Chew Wee Lek, Botanist. Miss Geh 
Siew Yin joined the staff as Botanist and Mr. Ng Kok Wah as temporary 
Horticultural Assistant in June. Che Kadim bin Tassim was appointed Junior 
Horticultural Assistant in October. Miss Ng Soot Hong, Library Officer, resigned 
in August, 
3. The Department experienced some difficulty in retaining the services of 
daily rated labourers and watchmen. Of the 18 daily rated watchmen and 15 
labourers sent to the Department, 9 watchmen and 6 labourers left the service. 
4. Marmo bin Somodikomo alias Marmoh bin Sumodikermo, Labourer, was 
awarded the Long Service Medal. 
III. HERBARIUM MATERIALS 
5. Some 12,000 specimens were mounted and 11,000 were indexed, while 
over 700 sheets were repaired. The Herbarium received 6,422 specimens under 
its exchange programme and distributed 3,344 in return. The greater part of 
the receipts came from the Solomon Islands, the Forest Research Institute in 
Kepong, and the Department of Forests in New Guinea. Materials loaned to 
thirteen institutions totalled 1,837 specimens. Particulars are given in Appendix I. 
IV. ORCHID RESEARCH 
6. During the year 161 hybrid pods were harvested from the Gardens Orchid 
Nursery. In addition, 20 pods were accepted for germination from Singapore 
growers, 18 from Malaysia and 1 from India. Of these 200 pods, 134 produced 
viable seeds. More than 2,000 flasks were constantly used for seedling culture. 
Seedlings from 839 flasks were taken out and potted. The flask culture medium 
used, as previously, was based on Vacin’s formula with the addition of 10 per 
cent young coconut water and banana pulp. In all, 2,687 matured seedlings were 
removed from the seedling houses to be grown in the open. 45 beds were dug or 
re-dug for planting and replanting. 
7. 261 orchid species and hybrids were received in exchange for 271 
orchid species and hybrids. The exchanges were with persons in Singapore, the 
Philippines, Australia, Japan and Ceylon. 
8. The following hybrids were registered: 
BGS. 3794 — Dendrobium Michiko (D. Concham x D. Noor Aishah) 
BGS. 3537 — Aranda Elizabeth Douglas-Home (Arachnis Maggie Oei x Vanda 
Radman). 
BGS. 3402 — Renantanda Akihito (Vanda Manila x Renanthera coccinea). 
! 2 M 
