22 
A large plant of Vanda Batemanni was stolen from the Orchid Garden 
and there were one or . two other small thefts, which will be inevitable 
if the Gardens are open to the public at night. 
GOVERNMENT HOUSE DOMAIN AND OTHER OUTSIDE 
CHARGES 
Singapore 
The grounds of the Domain were maintained in good order and several 
improvements were made by the additional planting of trees and shrubs, 
the reconstruction and reconditioning of shrubberies and the renewing of 
grass verges in several sections near the house. 
The chief undertakings were the regrading and terracing of the 
Congea-shrubbery; the removal of two groups of Ptychosperma McArthuri- 
palms and their replacement with two groups of Bougainvillea, Mrs. Butt 
and Mrs. McEean, on either side of the pathway leading to the hard tennis 
court; the planting of a row of Hibiscus mutabilis with a background of 
Jacaranda filicifolia, at the side of the driveway leading behind the house; 
the planting of several Mesua fcrrea and one Pteroearpus indicus, 
“Angsana", near the Guard-Room; the enlarging of the Dacrydium elatum- 
planting by the addition of seven plants; the planting of twenty-four 
Jacaranda and Acacia auriculaeformis on either side of the drive leading 
to the garages; and the planting of Poinciana regia, Albizzia moluccana, 
Eugenia caryophyllata, “Cloves", and Arfeuillea arborescens, “Hop tree", 
at other vantage places. 
The routine-work of replanting flower-beds and borders, when the 
occasion demanded, was well carried out and a bright show of flowers was 
obtained throughout the year. The maintenance of the lawns presented 
some difficulties. A large section in front of the house had to be turfed 
again and several verges behind the house had to be renewed. The motor- 
mowers, which have been in constant use for several years, showed signs 
of wear and had to be overhauled on several occasions, at which times 
the work had to be done by hand-machines. 
Several trees had to be cut down on account of their being considered 
dangerous. Of these the most noteworthy were a large Ficus benjamina 
near the nursery, a tree of Caryocar nuciferum, “Butter nut", from near 
the hard tennis court, several Poinciana regia and four Spathodea campanu- 
lata. No replacement was made except in the case of the Poinciana. 
The tennis-courts on the lower terrace in front of the House were 
entirely relaid. The work was placed in the hands of Mr. D. H. Kleinman. 
Assistance with the work was given by the removal of a greater part of 
the old turf and some of the soil. At the completion of Mr Kleinman’ s 
contract, the courts were hand-weeded on two occasions and given other 
necessary attention. 
An additional area of the enclosed nursery was given over to the 
growing of plants suitable as cut flowers. New beds of Vanda Miss 
Joaquim Gladiolus and Polianthes tuberosa, “Tuber-rose", were added. 
The orchid, Renanthera coccinea, was newly added. 
The pot-plant section was maintained as formerly. The following 
plants were additionally grown for purpose of house decoration Kochia, 
perennial Phlox, Tecomaria capensis and several new varieties of Dahlias. 
A large number of pot-plants were used for decoration within the 
house; the majority were flowering plants and had to be renewed at frequent 
intervals. The tubs of palms, used for decorating the alcoves on the lower 
