8 
the electric fence. By concentrating all the orchid work in the one area, more 
adequate supervision is possible, the time and labour of those tending the 
orchids are saved, the transport of seedlings is reduced and the orchids 
are more secure. The latter is extremely important because of the large 
number of orchid thefts which has occurred in Singapore during the year. 
Private growers have lost many valuable plants, while the Gardens lost 36 
seedlings of a valuable and promising cross before the seedlings were trans¬ 
ferred to their new quarters. Three of our best Vanda Tan Chay Yan plants 
and two Dendrobiums, which were on display in the plant house, were stolen 
in August. The police have not been able to trace the culprits, but it is obvious 
that those responsible have a considerable knowledge of orchids. Because of 
these thefts it is no longer possible to display valuable orchids in the plant 
house and so the public is deprived of seeing them at close quarters. This is 
particularly disappointing to the many tourists who visit the Gardens, some 
of whom come specifically to see the orchids. It is regretted that our best 
orchids cannot be displayed to the public until such time as the Gardens are 
enclosed by security fence and new gates provided or until the plant house is 
rendered thief-proof. 
38. The simplified technique of planting the Arachnis, Arandas, the 
terete and semi-terete Vandas and other orchids normally grown in beds, is 
proving very satisfactory. This consists of merely stripping off the turf, driv¬ 
ing in the stakes about 15 inches apart, tying the plants to the stakes so that 
their roots just rest on the surface of the soil and then building a mixture 
of half-rotted compost and manure round the plants to a height of 9 inches. By 
using this method no digging is done at all and the plants seem to thrive 
equally well, thus effecting a great saving in cost, time and compost. The 
cultivation of the seedlings in the sterilised medium with Vacin’s formula in 
the flasks in the laboratory was continued. Experiments were begun using 
coconut water (the liquid inside the nuts), both from immature and mature 
nuts, with the medium and it has produced very spectacular results. It is 
known that the coconut water contains a growth-promoting substance and 
it has speeded up the early growth of the seedlings to a remarkable degree. 
These experiments are continuing. 
39. Many exchanges of orchids were arranged with institutions abroad, 
as well as local growers. A large selection of Vandas and Dendrobiums was 
received on an exchange basis from Messrs. William Kirch of Honolulu. 
Messrs. T.M.A. Orchids of Singapore gave a selection of their new seedlings 
in exchange for some of ours. Among the plants received were a good variety 
of Aranthera James Storie, Dendrobium Edythe Pung, D. Grace Goo, D. 
Gouldii, Vanda azrulea, Vandaenopsis Khoo Kay Ann, V. Prosperitas and 
Vandanthe Colorsan. With more orchids of Hawaiian origin in the collection, 
especially those with Euanthe sanderiarta strain in them, and crossing these 
with our good Singapore hybrids, some outstanding new hybrids should be 
produced. 
40. During the year 240 crosses were made, of which 88 produced 
seeds. These have now been sown. The number of new orchid hybrids which 
flowered in 1956 was 48 and many of these have now been registered. They 
include the following:—Arachnis Capama (A. Maggie Oei x A. breviscapa\ 
A. Maroon Maggie (A. Maggie Oei x A. flos-aris var. insignis ), Aranda 
Amy Braga (Vanda Gilbert Triboulet x Arachnis Maggie Oei), A. Anne 
Braga ( Arachnis hookeriana x Vanda cooperi), A. Bertha Braga ( Vanda tri¬ 
color x Arachnis Maggie Oei), A. Eng Lan (Arachnis Maggie Oei x Vanda 
Rose Marie), A. Freckles (Arachnis Ishbel x Vanda dearei), A. Louise Wong 
(Arachnis Maggie Oei x Vanda sumatrana), A. Mauve Star ( Arachnis hooke¬ 
riana var. luteola x Vanda Flammerolle), A. Myrna Braga (Arachnis Ishbel 
