t 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
Paper to be laid before the Legislative Council by Command 
of His Excellency the Governor. 
Annual Report on the Botanical and Zoological Gardens, Singapore, for 1881 
The Superintendent of the 'Hotan-ir.nl anil Zoological Gardens, Singapore, 
to the Hon’bfe the Colonial Secretary. 
[No. 5.] 
Botanical Gardens, 
Singapore , 30 th January , 1882. 
Sir, — As arranged, the Acting Superintendent has 'handed me a 
Report on operations carried out in the Botanical Gardens during the 
year 1881, and an abstract of the expenditure of the preceding year, to be 
forwarded to you for the information of His Excellency the Governor, 
and I have the honour to forward it herewith as received accordingly. 
2. I have also the honour to forward at your suggestion, a short 
account of my doings while on leave of absence in England. 
I have, Ac., 
3ST. CANTLEY. 
Svueriniendent. 
Annual Report on the Botanical and Zoological Gardens. Singapore, for 1881. 
1. During the past year the department has had to contend with a 
serious disadvantage by the unavoidable absence of the Superintendent, 
who was invalided home in the early part of March last. This is more 
particularly to be regretted; because previous to bis arrival, in November, 
1880, the Gardens had, for some time, been worked single-handed. The 
initiatory changes, however, planned out by the Superintendent during 
his brief administration, have, as far as circumstances permitted, been 
carried out, and will subsequently be noticed under their respective beads. 
2. The year under review has not been characterised bv any 
* *} t 
extreme meteorological phenomena, with the exception of a few weeks’ 
drought in the month of June, which, happily, was not of a sufficiently 
long duration to cause much harm to the health of planted out specimens. 
It, however, was the cause of some anxiety at the time, and increased 
labour was necessary in systematic and copious watering. With this 
exception, the amount of rainfall has been very evenly distributed. 
3. The general neat appearance of the Gardens has been maintained 
in a very satisfactory manner, due, in a great measure, to the increased 
attention paid to the lawns and walks, the former requiring the constant 
attention of six men cutting grass. 
4. As usual, the white ants continue to he destructive to the planted 
out specimens, several of the larger ones having fallen preys to their 
ravages, notabh:. three of the tall Norfolk Island Pine,” Araucaria exeelsa.” 
SO 
Ah 
