6 
Spathoglottis hybrids have combined the characters of yellow-flowered 
mountain species and purple lowland species. First generation hybrids are 
almost sterile, but one second generation hybrid has proved fertile and a large 
number‘of seedlings were raised from seed planted in October 1946. The 
first of these flowered towards the end of 1948, and included one of outstanding 
merit, with a good head of entirely pale creamy yellow flowers. 
Seed Exchange. A seed exchange list was printed during the year and 
distributed to all Botanic Gardens which have sent us their lists. As a result 
there have been very numerous requests for seeds, and 967 packets have been 
sent out, to Gardens in all parts of the world. Seeds received in exchange 
amounted to 272 packets. 
Government House Domain, Singapore. 
The main areas of grass were maintained in good order by the use of motor 
mowers. An Allen motor scythe was purchased and with this the areas of 
lallang have been kept under control; it is hoped to bring much of this ground 
into a condition to be cut by an ordinary motor mower. A Hibiscus hedge 
75 yards long was planted to separate the upper and lower parts of the Domain. 
Further flower beds were made in front of Government House, and a number 
of new trees and shrubs planted. The Bauhinia kockiana plant gave a parti- 
‘ cularly fine display of flowers from August to December {this is a native Malayan 
climber with orange flowers). v 
The nurseries for flowering pot plants, cut flowers, and vegetables were 
maintained. Pot plants were changed twice a week. Some good new varieties 
of Dahlia have been introduced. 
Other Work Outside Botanic Gardens. 
Advice was given to the Public Works Department on the planting of trees 
and hedges at the St. George’s Road quarters. Advice was given regarding 
the trees in the compound of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, a new planting scheme 
was prepared, and the work of removing old trees and making new planting 
holes was supervised. Advice was also given about planting of trees, shrubs 
etc, at Social Welfare Department centres, at the residence of the Admiral, at 
R.A.F. stations and elsewhere, also to many individuals w ho enquired personally 
at the Gardens Office. Contact was maintained with the Municipal Parks 
Department throughout the year and advice given from time to time as 
requested. 
The Botanical Reserves. 
In 1937 the Forest Reserves in Singapore island (largely mangrove) were 
considered to be no longer worth maintaining for their production of timber. 
Parts of three Reserves were then handed over to the Botanic Gardens Depart¬ 
ment for maintenance as representative areas of natural vegetation. The 
areas retained the status of Forest Reserves for purposes of administration, 
but they have since been in effect Nature Reserves, primarily maintained for 
their botanical interest. 
The three areas are: (1) a small area of mangrove adjacent to the 14th mile 
on the Woodlands Road: (2) a larger area of mangrove between the Pandan 
and Jurong rivers: (3) Bukit Timah Forest Reserve. 
The Woodlands Reserve was formerly cleared of all but quite young trees. 
These trees have grown well in the past ten years, and other regeneration has 
also been satisfactory. The interesting species Pandanus Corneri is well 
represented; it probably now occurs nowhere else in the island. Two men 
