9 
XIX. LOANS OF HERBARIUM MATERIAL 
58. A total of 2,886 sheets of specimens was sent out on loan for study 
during the year to eight institutions. The majority were sent to Leiden and 
Kew and the principal families or genera supplied were: Ericaceae, Eriocau- 
lonacece, Thymeliacece, Ccelostegia, Neesia, Cyclea, Kopsia, Rauwolfia, Lygo - 
dium, Schizaea and in the algce, Sargassum and Codium. 
59. Six institutions sent on loan 3,182 sheets of Myristicaceae . 
HORTICULTURE 
XX. GARDENS MAINTENANCE 
60. The Gardens were well maintained, and have been looking their 
best for many years. The lawns were kept clean and tidy. 
61. A number of new beds was dug and large scale planting of her¬ 
baceous and annual plants carried out. There were over 70 new permanent 
plantings. 680 plant labels were made or renewed. Among the notable horti¬ 
cultural acquisitions from overseas which were established were Lagerstrasmia 
lanceolata. Eucalyptus triantha, E. microcarys, Euphorbia caracasana var. 
sanguinea , and an interesting collection of bougainvillea hybrids, B. Lady 
Mary Baring, B. Mary Palmer, B. Isabel Greensmith and B. Gillian Green- 
smith. These latter were obtained as a result of a private visit by the Director 
to East Africa. The cultivation and hybridising of bougainvillea has been 
specially successful in Kenya where these hybrids have been raised with 
spectacular results. Cuttings were supplied by the courtesy of Mr. H. P. 
Greensmith, Superintendent, Nairobi City Parks. 
62. Twenty-two plants died or were cut down, among the important 
ones were Eucalyptus naudiniana, Sabal blackburniana, Petrea arborea, 
Lodoicea sechellarum, Albizzia ealcensis and Araucaria excelsa. 
63. Routine manuring, especially with compost and sterameal, was 
carried out on a number of permanent plants. In addition rock phosphate was 
used. Most of the aroids and ferns in the Plant House were fed with ammo¬ 
nium sulphate. As an experiment a cover crop Indigofera endecaphylla was 
grown round the base of a number of palm trees. Apart from shading the 
soil and the exposed adventitious roots, it allows a return to the soil in the 
form of compost. 
64. The frangipanni collection on Lawn J was pruned and the beds 
manured. The canna beds along the Main Gate Road were re-newed twice 
during the year. Members of the cycas family which were scattered about the 
Gardens were duplicated and planted on Lawn D near the office as a col¬ 
lection. The intention is to confine this small but important genus to one area. 
65. Some of the Gardens’ trees were a source of danger to traffic along 
Cluny Road and had to be cut down or pruned. 
66. Both the ginger-wort rockery and the dell rockery were repaired 
and replanted. 
67. There was a big increase in the number of pot plants under culti¬ 
vation. Late in the year 400 pots of foliage plants were prepared for the 
1959 Constitution Exposition. Newly introduced crotons, roses, dahlias, an- 
thuriums, chrysanthemums and gladioli were established. 
68. Owing to the increasing demands of the orchid breeding programme, 
beds of newly introduced plants in the Orchid Enclosure were cleared and 
the material transferred to the nursery on Lawn Y. 
IZO 
