15 
69. A large quantity of larvae of the Rhinoceros beetle were supplied to 
the Entomological Section of the South Pacific Commission to assist in a bio¬ 
logical control project on this serious pest in the South Pacific area. 
70. During the year difficulty was experienced at the Kranji War Ceme¬ 
tery with a fungus attacking the Zoysia turf causing brown patches and rings. 
The pathogen was identified by Mr. A. Thompson of the University of Malaya 
as Helminthosporium oryzae, a weak parasite of grasses causing “Leaf spot” 
of rice. It is not a serious disease but its appearance is most prevalent during 
prolonged wet weather when lawns become covered with unsightly brown 
areas of infestation. A number of fungicides have been tried to control the 
fungus but with partial success only. If a satisfactory control can be obtained 
and a convenient method of husbandry worked out to avoid brown patches on 
mowing, this grass should find extensive use for growing especially high quality 
turf. It is not yet known whether the grass will stand up to much treading, 
and it would be premature to try it on a large scale in areas liable to wear. 
XXIV. ORCHIDS 
71. The half of the enclosure inside the security fence now given over to 
orchid cultivation will have to be extended into the other half displacing the 
plant introduction nursery to elsewhere, probably to a site to be prepared on 
Lawn X. Fourteen new beds were made for planting out half-grown new orchid 
hybrids. All orchid beds received heavy mulching, most of them being mulched 
and replanted 2—3 times during the year. 
72. Many plants were received on an exchange basis. The firms or indi¬ 
viduals concerned were Mr. Boey Cheng Heng, Mr. A. J. Braga and Corona¬ 
tion Nursery, Nam Kee Nursery, Seng Heng Nursery and T.M.A. Orchids Ltd. 
Dr. Womersley of the New Guinea Forest Department supplied some interest¬ 
ing species and seed. Seed was also received from various individuals for 
sowing and raising on the basis of a proportionate return of the seedlings to 
the donor. Amongst interesting plants to be introduced were Vanda Kono, 
V. Afterglow, V. Ernest Fuginaga, Dend. Lady Hamilton and Dend. Waikiki 
Beauty, but the most outstanding plant obtained was Vandanthe Tomas Felipe 
Camache from Seng Heng Nursery. 
73. With staff shortage, less hand-pollination was done. Fifty-four 
crosses were made, of which 20 set seed. These were sown in addition to the 
50 pods presented to the Gardens by local people, as well as pods from New 
Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados and America. The number of 
orchid hybrids which flowered for the first time was 21, 11 of which not 
previously named appear at the beginning of the list which follows: 1093: 
Arachnis hookeriana var. luteola X Renanthera monachica (Aranthera 
Dainty); 1451: Dendrobium Constance X Dend. champagne (yellow); 1597: 
Dend. Lim Chong Min X Dend. Mauna Kea; 1319: Arachnis ftosaeris X 
Vandanthe Ellen Noa; 977: Arachnis Ishbel X Vandanthe Ellen Noa; 1572: 
Aranda Gold Star X Vandanthe Ellen Noa; 984: Arachnis Maggie Oei X 
Ttichoglottis fasciata; 1226: Vanda Gilbert Triboulet X Aranda Catherine; 
920: V. Kapoho X V. Gilbert Triboulet; 1256: Arachnis hookeriana X 
Vanda Saphir; 909: Vanda luzonica X V. Gilbert Triboulet; 1000: Arachnis 
hookeriana X Vanda caerulea (Queen of Purples); 1572: D. Colin Potter 
X D. phalaenopsis ; 1501: Neo-Hawaii X D. phalaenopsis var. hololeucum 
(D. Lelia Camp); 1281: D. Champagne X D. Constance; 2104: D. Sarie 
Marijs X D. hololeucum (D. Marissa), 1742: D. undulatum X D. alba (D. 
Pauline); 1840: Vanda Josephine van Brero X Vandanthe tatzeri (Vandanthe 
