5 
miscellaneous work, including watching. The number employed on the grassy slopes 
and on roads was less than in 1918 but rather more than in 1917 ; but the number 
employed on cultivation considerably more ; this was possible firstly because the 
Food Controller’s funds enabled 10 men to be employed over the last four 
months of the year, and these men tilled the area of 5 acres on the hilltop, and 
secondly because the men freed by the cessation of rubber tapping were turned on 
to cultivation. 
The successive increases of men employed on clean-weeded areas in the 
Economic Garden have been, 9.81 per diem in 1917, 17.35 in 1918 and 34.42 in 
1919; the number per acre being 2 over some parts of the ground, and 3 over 
other parts. 
Waterfall Gardens, Penang. 
In the report for 1918, damage done by a storm on December 8th had to be 
recorded: the first work of 1919 was the obliteration of its marks. The bed of the 
stream under the Upper bridge was concreted in places; the foot bridge below it 
was restored ; the north wing of the Central bridge rebuilt and lengthened ; a low- 
dam was constructed just above it to direct the current ; and the wing of the old 
Mill dam was rebuilt. At the same time the high bank above the Central bridge 
on the south side of the stream received a final smoothing and was grassed over, 
thus removing the last disfigurement of a landslide which occurred in 1908. The 
year 1919 did not suffice for the restoration of the old ferneries, nor was the entrain- 
ment of the stream just under the Central bridge altogether finished. 
The collections were maintained, and by a trip into Siam, Mr. Mohamed 
Haniff added a number of desirable plants. 
The growth in Penang of Cupressus glabra has been most pleasing : this little 
cypress from arid regions in the United States, on steep sandy slopes by the 
Gardens’ gate, is doing remarkably well. It does badly in Singapore. 
One of the three large trees of Araucaria excelsa fell, destroyed by white ants. 
The number of plants sent out was 2,304, with 203 packets of seed. 
The Municipal Band played in the Gardens after dark on four occasions. 
Labour was utilised thus : — for pot plants at the rate of 9.92 men per diem ; 
on lawns 6.12; on trees 8.52; sweeping 2.95; bedding 3.05; on roads 3.94; in 
nurseries 1.92; on rockeries 2.00; and unclassed 0.65. 
Government House Domain. 
There was made no change of moment in the Government House domain ; 
nor were any conspicuous trees lost. 
Labour was used thus : — on the lawns 16.09 m en per diem ; on bedding 6.46 ; 
for pot plants 4.10; and in nurseries 3.00; for hedging and tree-cutting 1.80; 
for sweeping and cleaning 3.11 ; for shrubberies 2.03; at the Colonial Secretary’s 
Bungalow for all manner of work 4.49, and unclassed .37. 
I 
Miscellaneous. 
The Coconut Inspector in Singapore, taking the title of Sub- Inspector of Agri- 
culture, was transferred to the Agricultural Department, but, under an arrangement 
with the Director of Agriculture, continued to report weekly at the Gardens. 
After the middle of the year the control of the Mt. Zion coconut land ceased. 
As many tours has made the Director of Gardens very familiar with the 
Malacca river valley, a report on the neglected rice-land in it was asked for and 
submitted to the Government. 
Botanic Gardens, 
Singapore, nth December , 1920. 
I. HENRY BURKILL, 
Director of Gardens, S. S. 
