c 
-2- 
steps and 480 old plants returned to the Chinese gardener’s 
nursery. 1 Asparagus pl-umosus was planted in the small plant 
house. A number of plants were top-dressed with a mixture of 
leaf-mould, sand and rock phosphate. Several of the collection 
of local orchids were re-fixed with new fern-root, and a few 
unnamed ones identified and labelled. 
6. Orchids . 
The collection of local ?4alayan orchids in- the potting 
yard was overhauled, and many plants re-tied to their supports, 
with new fern-root, A few were identified and labelled. The 
seedlings continue to progress slowly. Experimental crossing 
between Spathoglottis and Galanthe was carried out, and many 
fruits obtained but to date no seeds. If this cross is possible, 
it would be very interesting and also "valuable. Many other 
trial crossings were made in the genera Vanda, Arachnis and 
Dendrobium. Seeds were planted of 8 nev/ crosses and many young 
plants transplanted to new flasks. The use of local sea-weed 
instead of prepared agar-agar is proving q.uite satisfactory. 
In the nursery for the larger orchid plants a number of new 
cuttings were made of several selected Vanda and Arachnis hybrids, 
and a number of Dendrobiuras re-potted. About 6o plants were 
sent to the plant house for display, and the following also 
sent to G-overnraent House; 1 Vanda insignis, 1 V. luzonica, 
1 Arachnis Lowii, 1 Cattleya Luddemanniana, 1 Dendrobium Rose 
Marie, 1 Cattleya sp. , 1 Dendrobium Pauline, 1 Vanda tricolor x 
Boxallii . 
7. Rhododendrons . 
An exceptionally fine seedling Rhododendron flowered during 
the month, no. 47 - It is a hybrid raised in the Cardens between 
R. longiflorum and J.H. Mangles (a jasminif lorum- javanicum 
hybrid; and has flowers as fine as the best R. .jovanicum, which 
will only grow on mountains in Malaya. An attempt is being made 
to propagate this plant, and. the flowers have been pollinated 
to produce seeds.' 
8. Work in the Cardens . 
Rain . The total rainfall during December was 22.01 inches, of 
■ * which 15*77 inches fell in 6 days (5th to 10th). The 
average rainfall for December is 12 inches. This 
heavy rain caused much loss of time\ in working in the 
Cardens, did much damage to, young vegetable plants 
and flowering pot-plants, and caused the fall of a few 
trees. 
Lawn A - Crass cutting and weeding. Cassia alata (Daun Celeng- 
gang) planted at the end of the long Canna bed. 
Lawn B - Crass cutting. A second Canna bed was burnt, limed and 
re-planted with potted plants v/hich it is hoped are 
free from disease. All the Bougainvillea plants, and 
some other young plants, on this lawn were well dug 
and manured. A new Bougainvillea (seedling from 
Australia) was planted in place of a superfluous Mrs. 
Butt. One of the old Casuarina sumatrana trees lost 
a large branch in one of the storms. 
Lawn C - Crass cutting and weeding. Large holes were dug in 
the places. v/here two old Araucarias recently fell, and 
new plants of Araucaria Cunningham! planted. Caesal - 
pinia pauci flora was planted in the place where a 
former plant died. Allamanda violacea was j)lanted 
beside the other Allamandas. 
