In the Sun Rockery granite chips have been mixed with the soil in order 
to improve drainage, and a number of new plants were put out. Plaworthias, 
Gasterias and most Crassulacese continued to grow poorly and it is evident 
that the climate is unsuitable for them. A number of species of Opuntia and 
Cereus continued good growth, but most of them produced no flowers. 
Bowenia spectabilis produced a new shoot and continued to grow well; 
Stangeria paradoxa was also planted out in the rockery. 
During the wet weather towards the close of the year some attention 
was given to the improvement of lawns, many of which had g~ot into bad 
condition; some were top-dressed with manure, and a portion of lawn M. 
replanted entirely with Cynodon, with good results. 
The front portion of the large plant house roof was entirely taken down, 
and an iron framework roofed with laths erected in its place, by the Public 
Works Department. The shelter near the lake was also re-roofed and glass 
houses in the potting yard repaired and painted. 
Some progress was made with the card index of plants in cultivation, 
and all new additions have been included in the list. This work is being 
undertaken jointly by the Assistant Botanist and the Record Keeper; the 
former is also systematically working through and adding to the Gardens 
Herbarium of cultivated plants. Many plants have been found to be in¬ 
correctly named, or have lost their names, and assistance from Mr. I. H. 
Burkill in their identification is acknowledged with many thanks. This 
work on the records of plants growing in the Gardens is slow, but if the 
records now made are kept carefully up-to-date, and checked with the plants 
themselves at regular intervals, they will provide a most valuable store of 
information. 
WATERFALL GARDENS, PENANG 
The rainfall for the year was i28'4 ins., which is below the average, but 
it was evenly distributed, except for the very wet month of April (23 ins.). 
The wet season during September and October was much less pronounced 
than usual. 
The usual routine work has been maintained, and the lawns in particular 
continue steadily to improve in appearance. The following were the chief 
items of special work carried out. Above the water-lily pool a catch pit 
was made to avoid silting of the pool, and an alternative channel was made 
foi the stream to direct flood water from the lily pool. Some trees beyond 
the pool were also felled, and the cliff face above is now clearly seen. The 
lein 1 ockery was again strongly built up and concreted along the stream 
side, to prevent damage from floods. A set of thermometers were installed 
in a Stevenson screen, and readings regularly taken. 
The Public Works Department constructed a new seed raising house in 
the nursery and this is proving very valuable. A retaining wall was also 
made 011 the stream bank above Plant House No. 3? and a new wooden 
bridge made across the stream below the fern rockery, to replace the old 
biidge, which was badly damaged by floods in 1926. Improvements of 
subsoil drainage were carried out by the Medical Department. 
The plants of Bougainvillea Mrs. Butt opposite the office have grown 
very strongly and flowered most handsomely. The Gardens at Bel Retire 
and Strawberry Hill have been well maintained. New plants tried with 
success for bedding were Buddleia variabilis and Dahlia imperialis. Aster 
cordifolms, introduced from Buitenzorg, has proved very successful as a pot- 
plant and a good stock of plants have been raised. The roses have been 
improved, and a number of new plants were introduced from England at the 
end of the year. The conifers and maples introduced from Japan in 1926 
were planted out. The vegetable garden was extended, and a stand pipe 
from the new Hill water supply laid to it; this has greatly facilitated work- 
in the garden. It has been difficult to secure an adequate supply of bullock 
manure ror the hill gardens; this has partly been overcome by the use of fish 
manure and artificials. 
