6 
THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE 
* General Garden work .—All the more continuous areas of grass in the 
southern part of the garden were brought into a condition to be cut by line lawn 
mowers, and were greatly improved in appearance. A light motor mower was 
purchased through the Crown Agents and was used to cut these lawns during 
the latter part of the year. Labour was thereby released to give more atten¬ 
tion than has hitherto been possible to the rough grass of the palm valley 
and lawn Z. Towards the end of the year further areas were top dressed with 
various combinations of artificial manures, with a view to ascertaining the 
treatment which will best encourage the finer grasses. 
Re-arrangement of the beds in the bandstand hill area was completed. 
More beds were provided for display of annual and perennial herbaceous 
plants and small flowering shrubs, and the following useful additions were 
made :—Gerbera Jamesoni, Solidago prolifica, Rudbeckia Newmanii, Aster 
cordifolins and Tithonia speciosa. Buddleia Davidii was unexpectedly success¬ 
ful, and a small plant of Berberis Fortnnei , introduced from Bombay, produced 
flowers about the end of the year. A bed of Hydrangeas was planted as an 
experiment; the plants flowered but did not grow so vigorously as when 
cultivated in pots. 
One terrace was laid out as a Ganna garden for the display of the newer 
and finer varieties; several new varieties were added by exchange. All the 
climbers were provided with permanent iron supports. The lower terrace 
on the southern side of the hill was returfed and laid out with paved walks at 
right angles across if. At the intersection of the walks a hemispherical sun¬ 
dial was erected; the sun dial pedestal was designed and modelled by Mrs. 
Holttum, and cast in concrete by the bricklayer employed in the Gardens. 
Steps were made leading from the terrace to the lawn below, giving easy 
access to the main gate road and lake. 
The Lakc .~During the months of September and October, the lake was 
partially drained and cleared as completely as possible of Chora and other 
weeds. A considerable amount of mud was also removed from the upper end, 
which had become very shallow. A new outlet pipe was made through the 
bund about 4 feet below normal water level, so that draining may easily be 
carried out in future. The Nymphaea plants were replanted after the clean¬ 
ing operations, and immediately showed a much more vigorous growth than 
formerly. 
Plant labels . — Considerable attention was paid to labelling of plants 
during the year. By the use of the multiple embossing press it is now possible 
• to label fully all new plants immediately they are planted out. Four-and five- 
line embossed aluminium labels are nailed to pieces of wood of the same size, 
and these are attached to supports of strip iron. These labels are quickly 
made, neat in appearance, and may be expected to last for several years. 
They have been used particularly on the bandstand hill and for the larger 
plants in the plant house. About 300 have been made, in addition to the 
usual larger painted labels. 
Orchids .—The general collection of orchids was largely increased during 
the year. The additions were due partly to the considerable collections made 
on the field expeditions referred to above, partly to gifts, chiefly from Messrs. 
J. Laycock and C. E. Carr, to purchases through the Malayan Orchid Society, 
and to exchanges. Among the plants presented by Messrs. Carr and 
Laycock were several additions to the known flora of the Malay Peninsula; 
these will be recorded in the Gardens Bulletin. In April and May the large 
plants of Vandopsis Lowii bore 16 inflorescences and made a fine display. The 
orchid garden above the Sun Rockery was extended and now contains 14 
climbing species. The Arachms alba plants had to be enclosed with cages of 
wire netting to prevent the attacks of monkeys, anc] the Plumeria bushes in 
the neighbourhood were so broken by them that the project of using these 
bushes as supports for smaller orchids had to be abandoned. 
