Annual Report on the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 
FOR THE YEAR 1 885. 
Visitors. — The number of visitors to the gardens during the year 
may he roughly stated at about 7}000, an average month having drawn 
six hundred and twenty. 
2. Buildings. — -The permanent buildings connected with the De- 
partment are in good order. The following new structures have been 
erected, viz. : — 
3. Exhibition House.— The exhibition house has been covered 
during the year with a permanent roof 170 feet long by 88 broad, and 
consists of a framework of one inch broad wooden rods with one inch inter- 
spaces to admit light, supported on strong hallow posts. On the south and 
west sides, the roof is closed in with shingles to provide shelter for 
visitors during rain. The paths throughout the house have been laid with 
concrete, five large tanks made to hold rain water, and the staging 
at both ends considerably extended. The house as it now stands is a credi- 
table building, and suits its purpose well. The work of roofing was car- 
ried out by the Public Works Department, the plant staging by the garden 
authorities. 
4. The first plants put into this new structure were the exhibits of 
the flower-show held during the year, which is acknowledged to have 
been the most successful exhibition of the kind ever held in Singapore. 
The exhibits being removed, the house was at once filled with a general 
collection of pot plants, which have grown well, but it will take time to 
obtain specimens sufficiently large to furnish the house properly. 
5 . Aviary. — Anew aviary in two compartments consisting of 9 cages, 
each 10' x 6/ has been constructed. One compartment has been erected on 
each side of the old monkey house, which is an ornamental octagonal build- 
ing with dome top, and makes a good centre, and has also been fitted up 
with cages for the larger carniverous birds. The floors have been strongly 
laid with Malacca tiles set in cement mixed with broken glass to prevent 
rats (which were the great pest of the old building) burrowing. The cages 
being larger than those of the old aviary the birds have more room to 
disport themselves and seem more lively since their transfer. 
6. Tool Store . — A wooden shed for the storage of tools and imple- 
ments, materials, &c., has been constructed in the work-yard, as a tempo- 
rary measure. A stone building will ultimately have to be erected for 
storage, in order to provide effectually against thieves. 
