13 
XXI. GOVERNMENT HOUSE DOMAIN 
60. The grounds were maintained in good condition throughout the 
year. A Hayter motor scythe proved very useful in trimming roadside verges 
and small areas unworkable by normal mowers. The Ransome Gazelle has 
been found excellent for mowing slopes and banks, some of them quite steep. 
The additional mechanical equipment brought into use released labour for 
work on the outlying parts of the Domain. The area on the north-east side 
hitherto not cuttable by machine was graded and many small self-sown 
saplings were removed. 
61. During the year all young trees and shrubs which had been recently 
planted were manured. The Stenolobium starts in front of Government House 
received special attention and amply repaid the extra care by flowering six to 
seven times. This particular plant responds extremely well to heavy manuring, 
both in growth and in freedom of flowering. Bougainvilleas which are also a 
feature of the Domain around the house require much less manuring with the 
exception of B. poultoni which responds as well as does Stenolobium stans. 
All the Canna beds at Government House, Chief Secretary’s House, Under 
Secretary’s House and Attorney-General’s House as well as the beds in the 
nursery were replanted once during the year. The hedges, particularly those 
near the IN & OUT Roads and the Baphia hedge near the second gate were 
heavily manured, the latter twice. Compost heaps were maintained, the general 
gang spending two or three days per month making them. There were com¬ 
plaints from the Health Department about fly breeding, but these were even¬ 
tually kept under control by using “Agrocide.” The chief reason why flies 
breed in the compost heaps is that poultry by their constant scratching prevent 
the compost heaps from heating correctly. Spent hops were collected weekly 
from the breweries and cattle manure when available from the quarantine 
station. Large quantities of elephant dung were obtained for the first time; it 
was found good as an activator in composting. Burnt soil was made monthly. 
62. The beds of orchids in the nursery were extended. Amongst the 
varieties grown, the chief type is Arachnis Maggie Oei; there are also a number 
of beds of Vanda Miss Joaquim, Vanda Amy and various Arandas. A number 
of orchid beds were planted in the potting yard enclosure so that there might 
be better control over cutting blooms. The potting yard benches were changed 
in a number of cases to chengal ( Balanocarpus heimii ), replacing the kapor 
( Dryobalanops) which rots quickly. 
63. The gardens in front of Government House, at the Chief Secretary’s 
House, the Attorney-General’s House, the Under Secretary’s House and the 
new garden were kept cut and tidy with no major alteration taking place. 
Five large Bougainvilleas were replaced with Congea velutina. The Mucuna 
on the pergolas in front of the house deteriorated and two new ones were 
planted as possible replacements if and when the old one dies. Mucuna ben - 
nettii does not seem to like short mown turf around its roots; it was much 
better before the rockery beds around it were levelled and laid down to grass. 
64. The kitchen garden produced salad vegetables, bayam ( Amaran- 
thus), long beans ( Vigna sinensis), brinjals ( Solatium melongena), artichokes 
(Helianthus tuberosus) and lady’s fingers ( Hibiscus esculentus). There has 
been some difficulty in getting watercress to grow well in this site; trials are 
being made at the potting yard enclosure but it is not known yet whether these 
will be successful. Beds of Canna, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Artemesia and various 
other herbaceous plants were maintained for use as cut flowers. 
/oS 
