9 
Conifers. —One of the plants of Pinus Merkusii, planted at the end of 
1935, had reached a height of about 12 feet by the end of 1938 and was still 
in vigorous growth. This is larger than any true pine which has ever been 
grown previously in Singapore. A neighbouring Cassia tree, which caused 
the pine to grow one-sidedly, was cut down, and the pine responded immedi¬ 
ately. It clearly needs a fully exposed position. Other interesting conifers 
which have made a good start are Podocarpus usambarensis (E. Africa), 
Callitris intratropica (X. Australia), and Fokienia Hodginsii (S. China). 
Rhododendrons . — As above noted, Mr. E. D. BuTERR presented a plant 
of Rhododendron longifiorum (a Malayan species which grows on trees or on 
rocks at moderate elevations) and Mr. O. F. Ricketts of Kuching presented 
a plant of the Bornean R. Brookeanum. Both these were grown in pots, and 
flowered. Both are beautiful species and well worth growing in vSingapore 
for their flowers, but they evidently need some care in cultivation. In view 
of the great amount of hybridization which has been carried out with 
Rhododendrons in other parts of the world, it is certainly worth while to try 
this also in Singapore. Experiments were, therefore, tried towards the end 
of the year, and seedlings germinated. A technique for raising these tiny 
plants needs to be perfected. Crosses will be attempted between the local 
species and the few Azaleas which grow well in Singapore. 
Orchids.— The orchid collection continued to do well under Mr. Nauen’s 
management, and in the latter half of the year a number of the hybrid 
seedlings flowered for the first time. The most spectacular of these were 
the Dendrobiums. A number of plants of D. phalcenopsis x undulatum 
{“Pauline”) flowered freely, and for several months there were always a 
group of these on show in the jflant house. D. phalcenopsis x superbiens 
proved much less vigorous, but a few plants flowered, of a very handsome 
deep purple colour; this group is distinctly variable in the form of the flower. 
Smaller, but very dainty, and also lasting in good condition for more than a 
month, were D. bigibbum x veratrifolium of which we have a good batch 
of plants raised from seeds provided by Mr. Mungo Park. These seem 
slower in growth than “Pauline” but the plants are quite vigorous. 
Three new Vanda hybrids flowered during the year. Vanda sumatrana 
x Miss Joaquim {seeds from Mr. J. Laycock) is attractive, and also fragrant; 
but, like all seedlings of Miss Joaquim, it is variable, and so far the smaller 
flowered plants have proved most free-flowering. Several seedlings of 
Vanda Miss Joaquim x Hookeriana flowered, no two alike. The best of 
them are quite distinctive and attractive; others are very near Vanda Cooperi. 
Equally variable were the seedlings of Vanda Cooperi x Marguerite Maron; 
most of them seem to have a lip of bad shape, or poor colouring, but it is 
still possible that a good form may appear. 
Within the genus Arachnis, we had hitherto only produced A. flos - 
ceris x Hookeriana, which proved to be almost identical with the wild 
A. Maingayi. Seedlings of A. Maingayi x Hookeriana flowered during 
1938, and were as variable as the Vanda hybrids mentioned above. The 
best of them is an attractive addition to the group of scorpion orchids and 
is quite free-flowering. 
Two hybrids between the genera Vanda and Arachnis {for which the 
“generic” term Aranda is used) also flowered during the year. The larger 
of these was A. Hookerianan x V. Dearei; it had yellow flowers, very 
fragrant like its Vanda parent, of good size and appearance but on rather a 
short stalk. A. Hookeriana x V. lamellata had smaller flowers, but on 
longer stalks; it has much the habit of a scorpion orchid, but is quite distinc¬ 
tive and will probably be a useful plant for general cultivation later. 
Al 
