14 
hand, to which my attention was specially drawn by Professor Dyer, 
<’ m.g., of the Royal Gardens, Kew. This work was commenced as the 
year closed and has been prosecuted with vigour during 1888. Much 
new information has been got together and will early appear in a separate 
report on the subject. • 
118 — Government House Grounds, Improvements.— During 
the year, the Government House Grounds have been placed under the 
direction of this department and the improvements effected have been 
those planned chiefly by His Excellency the Governor, and which consist 
mainly in the removal of the shrubbery designs from the two squares of 
grass lawn in front of the house, which had become overgrown, unsightly 
and otherwise inappropriate for the position. The plants being removed, 
the lawn was levelled and closely grassed over over an extent of 1,000 
square yards. ' . 
_ i 
119. — This work was in progress when Prince Albert and Prince 
George or Wales paid the Colony a visit, and at the request of His 
Excellency the Governor each planted a plant of the beautiful Peru Palm, 
Marti nezia earyotaefolia, one in the centre of each of the grass squares 
just mentioned. These plants have grown well, suit the position and 
have been surrounded by strong iron protectors. 
] 20. — The next chief improvements lie to the east of the house 
where the long grass slope on that side has been terraced. The first of 
which consists of a walk 70 yards long and 2 yards broad. This walk 
has been metalled with laterite, provided with side drains in brick, and 
covered with wooden trellis work it s whole length. The trellis is covered 
by a selection of flowering creepers, the colours of which have been so 
arranged in the planting as to bring the flowers in bloom in bouquet 
order. The creepers have now covered the trellis work and form a shady 
bower in which one can walk during any hour of the day protected from 
the scorching rays of a tropical sun. 
121. — immediately below this bower comes a design in coloured 
leaves on the carpet bedding style ; below this a small walk, 8 feet broad, 
and behind this again a mixed border of flowering shrubs backed by a 
bamboo hedge which forms the boundary and outline of the whole system. 
The design has looked well throughout the year. 
] 22.— Several other improvements have been made throughout the 
lawns in the way of planting specimen plants and removing unsightly 
objects. The lawn tennis grounds have been top-dressed. 
123. — To receive the various plants removed in the course of these 
improvements as well as to assist in keeping up a supply of cut flowers, 
a nursery has been formed in an excluded position near the Coolie- 
houses. 
124. — The grass lawns and walks have been kept in good order 
throughout the year. But there is still much room for improvement in 
the way of grouping trees and shrubs in landscape order, and destroying 
the straight monotonous lines which form the Malay ideal of pictu- 
resflueness. 
