6 
to attempts to breed improved Arandas. However, persistent trials have re¬ 
sulted in a few fertile crosses, of which seedlings are now in flasks. The genera 
involved are Aranda x Trichoglottis; Aranda x Vanda; Aranda x Vandanthe; 
Aranda x Renanthera; and Aranda x Arachnis. 
Several boxes of cut orchids, contributed by a number of Singapore orchid 
growers, and by the Botanic Gardens, were sent to London by air for the 
Coronation. They arrived in perfect condition and were used in the decora¬ 
tion of the Queen’s robing room at Westminster Abbey. 
A smaller consignment of cut orchids from the Gardens was sent to 
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for exhibition at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s show in London. 
VISITORS 
A number of distinguished scientists visited the Gardens during the year. 
Amongst them were H.H. Tunku Yaacob, Member for Agriculture and Fores¬ 
try, Federation of Malaya; Dr. and Mrs. Julian Huxley; Professor D. A. Webb, 
Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin; Dr. R. Melville, Royal 
Botanic Gardens, Kew; Professor B. Lindquist, Director of the Botanic Gar¬ 
dens, Gothenburg, Sweden; Mrs. Raymond Greene, botanist and artist from 
America; Mr. A. B. Walton, Conservator of Forests, North Borneo, and Mr. 
H. D. Ingle of C.S.I.R.O., Australia. 
GOVERNMENT HOUSE DOMAIN 
The grounds of the Domain were kept in good order throughout the year, 
partly due to the use of a new Dennis motor mower and an extra Allen 
motor scythe, which enabled most of the outlying parts of the Domain to 
come under close cultivation. Only small areas of undesirable thickets and 
rough growth remain to be dealt with. 
All Canna beds were replanted twice during the year. The old Juniperus 
and Cypress trees alongside the ‘in’ and ‘out’ drives to Government House, 
which were long past their best, were removed and replaced by sixteen 
Stenolobium starts. A long section of the Hibiscus hedge bordering the ‘out’ 
drive, which had become old and untidy, was removed and replaced by a 
Cordia hedge, which in four months was full grown. Two very tall Royal 
palms by the path leading to the New Garden were taken out in accordance 
with the planting scheme for this area, begun two years ago. A large plant 
of Bignonia magnified on the slope above the New Garden was replaced 
by eight Bougainvillea Singapore Beauty. A large bed of Ixora javanica was 
removed from the top of the slope above the guardroom and seven single 
beds of Bougainvillea Poultoni (a recent introduction to Singapore) and 
Calliattdra emarginata put in its place. The Clove trees alongside the ‘out’ 
drive, which were beginning to lose their original compact shape, were heavily 
mulched with compost and the turf below them was renewed. 
There has been a marked improvement in the growth of the orchid plants 
since their removal to the new nursery and an increased supply of cut orchids 
for Government House is now available. 
Burnt earth for the large number of pot plants maintained was made 
about once a month. Sterameal was largely used as manure for these plants, 
with satisfactory results. Large quantities of compost were made, the chief 
constituent of it being spent hops, which were collected regularly from the 
local breweries, 
