- 2 - 
steps and 480 old plants returned to the Chinese gardener’s 
nursery, 1 Asparagus plumosus 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 Malayan 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. Kxperimental crossing 
between Spathoglottis and Calanthe 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 ware made in the genera Vanda, Arachnis and 
Dendrobiun. Seeds were planted of 8 new crosses and many young 
plants transplanted to new flasks. The use of local sea-weed 
instead of prepared agar-agar is proving quite 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 Government House: 1 Vanda insignia, 1 V. luzonica, 
1 Arachnis Lowii , 1 Gattleya Luddemanniana, 1 Dendrobium Rose 
Marie, 1 Gattleya ap, , 1 Dendrobium Pauline, 1 Vanda tricolor x y 
Boxallii.’ 
7. Rhododendrons . 
An exceptionally fine seedling Rhododendron flowered during 
the month, no. 47. It is a hybrid raised in the Gardens between 
R. longiflor-um and J.H. Mangles (a jasminif lorum- javanicum 
hybrid) and has flowers as fine as the best R. .lavanicum, 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 Gardens . 
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 
Gardens, did much damage to young vegetable plants 
and flowering pot-plants, and caused the fall of a few 
trees. 
Lawn A - Grass cutting and weeding. Cassia alata (Daun Geleng- 
gang) planted at the end of the long Ganna bed. 
Lawn B -- Grass cutting. A second Ganna bed was burnt, limed and 
re-planted with potted plants which it is hoped are 
free from disease. All the Bougainvillea plants, and 
sane 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 Gasuarlna sumatrana trees lost 
a large branch in one of the storms. 
Lawn C - Grass cutting and weeding. Large holes were dug in 
the places where two old Araucarias recently fell, and 
new plants of Araucaria Cunningham! planted. Caesal - 
pinia pauciflora was planted in the place where a 
former plant died. Allamanda violacea was planted 
beside the other Allamandas. ^ 
I 
