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seeins to have the leant effect on the plants. I have written to Assam amt China for some « 
more seeds, which I shall try on another pie.ee of ground as soon as they arrive. 
Captain Murray thus describes his experience with it in Sungei Ujong. 
«• Has done fairly well on the lull, it won’t grow on any terms on the low ground, out or 
“ some twentv seeds that gerimmted, fifteen have grown to a good health state, and I think 
“ at that elevation tea would do. fairly well.” 
Mr. Low is anxious to try it at Kwala Kangsa. 
I think that in the Straits we must build our hopes on Assam tea, as the Chinese tea 
plant although it grows fairly well here, never, so far as my observation goes, gives a “ flush” 
of youno- foliage, such as would be requisite to render tea planting a profitable investment. 
Teosinte ( Euchlccuu litocuviciifi #) . — -This hus boon sta led dlic tjuccn of f 013 . 1*0 j^idsses, ojicI 
so much has boon written about it that I was induced to try it here. That it is a useful 
o-rass,. no one can deny, but I doubt if it is entitled to all that has been said for it. The 
fact of its being an annual is very much against it : here it only lasts 5 months altogether 
from the time the seed is sown to the time the plant is dead. 
It is also .evidently partial to well manured land, where it would perhaps perpetuate 
itself by self sowing, but if left to itself l " lalang would certainly ciowd it out. 
Cattle are very fond of it, and, it is stated to contain a large amount of saccharine 
matter. , _ „ ... . .. 
One seed forms a tuft of from 10 to 20 stems which grow about 10 feet high, reminding 
one of Maize. . 
It seeds freely and a good crop of seed has been harvested. I have sent some to the 
Native States for trial. , 
Prickly Gomfrey.— This lias completely lost its reputation in tropical India and Levlon, 
and our entire stock has succumbed to the continued wet weather. 
Suyar Qctne . — 25 varieties (named) have been introduced, but it is too soon as yet to 
attempt any report on them. 
Mango. — 28. varieties of this much esteemed fruit have been received from Calcutta 
and Manila, but for some time to come they will be used for furnishing scions for inarching. 
Vegetables.— Bv the kindness of the' Hon’blc AC. H. Read, we were enabled to make a 
trial with some English vegetable seeds. A great many of the seeds never germinated at 
all, although they were all sown within a fortnight of their arrival here. 
If grown in pots and carefully nursed and attended to, some amount of success may be 
obtained, but at a very great cost, such as we are at present unable to defray. 
The Peas grew very fairly and produced a fair quantity of pods, considering the temper- 
ture, but before they* were fairly formed they were bitter and dry. French beans from 
tlie Hardens are very inferior to the Doliehos, &c., grown by the Chinese gardeners here. 
Of Melons and Cucumbers, as well as Tomatoes, a fair crop was set, but the monkeys 
rarely left a fruit long enough to get ripe. 
Parsley and some other herbs grew freely enough, as did the lettuces, &c. Cabbages and 
all the family were not worth the trouble and manure. 
Mr. Low has got on very fairly with some seeds that 1 sent him, at Kwala Kangsa. 
Library. — No additions’ bevond the usual periodicals were received last year, except 
the Flora of British Blirmah and the various Forest Reports from the Government of India; 
and as no list of the books have yet been placed on record, I have annexed a list for future 
reference. 
‘ Herbarium. — I have devoted what leisure time I have been able to spare from the Gar- 
dens to the formation of the herbarium, and some progress has been made. 
My thanks are due to the authorities at Kew for their promptitude and courtesy in nam- 
ing the specimens referred to them from time to 'time 
It has afforded me great satisfaction to find that the Europeans in Singapore are begin- 
ning to take an interest in the names of plants ; of which the numerous specimens forwarded 
to me for identification last year are a good evidence. 
Labels— The slate ones are still very unsatisfactory, but labels made of Hallo and Tain- 
penis, or Johorc leak, have been ordered, and which, I believe, will be less expensive to keep 
in order here. / 
The Gardens sustained a great loss in April, through the sudden death of the Head 
Gardener, Mr. George Smith, who had scarcely been here twelve months. 
Our exchanges continue satisfactory, and the range of correspondence has been con- 
siderably enlarged during the year. 
42 Wardian cases have been sent away from the Settlement, besides cases and packets 
of seeds, Ac, and plants have been supplied gratis for the grounds at the waterworks. 
The usual lists of Contributors, Recipients, and Subscribers are appended, with an abstract 
of expenditure. 
A catalogue of all the plants under cultivation in the Gardens is in the printer’s hands, 
on :31st December, 1878, "it comprised upwards of 1,800 spp., as against 400 in March, 
1876 . 
I have to acknowledge with thanks, the kindness and courtesy of the Agents in 
fc Co. ; Messrs. Apcar & Co. ; The 
Singapore, for the F. & Q. Co.; Messrs. Jardine. Matheson A 
British India, and Netherlands India Steam Navigation 
Co - and es 
v to Messrs. 
r 
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