7 
The total numbers of plants and seeds sent out and received were as 
follows: — 
0 utwards — 
Singapore — Plants 
Seeds 
Canna tubers 
Other tubers, cuttings, etc. 
Penang — Plants, tuber, etc. ... 
Seeds 
Inwards — 
Singapore — Plants 
Seeds 
Penang — Plants 
Seeds .... 
4.679 
1,024 packets. 
4,698 
h 795 
3,510 
79 packets. 
1,085 
743 packets. 
404 
739 packets. 
THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE 
General Garden Work. —A considerable amount of work was again 
devoted to improvement of lawns, and by the end of the year nearly the 
whole of the grass in the Gardens was being cut with machines. The area 
behind the Director’s quarters which had a considerable amount of “lalang” 
(Imperata) in it was mown regularly with a strong large-wheeled machine. 
Frequent close cutting entirely killed the lalang. An additional motor mower 
(Dennis 24-inch) was purchased and brought into use about July, the lighter 
motor mower previously in use being employed chiefly on the more level 
lawns of the bandstand area. In the exceptionally dry weather during July 
and August the grass suffered badly, but quickly recovered when rainfall 
returned to normal. 
A hand pump was installed in the nursery to pump water to a tank 
beside the Chinese gardener’s benches; this resulted in the saving of much 
labour previously expended in carrying water. 
The boundary along Cluny Road was fenced, the concrete posts employed 
being cast by the Gardens bricklayer. The vegetation on the edge of the 
jungle almost hides the fence, which is therefore not unsightly. 
The Sun Rockery was partly re-made and replanted, and the growth of 
many of the smaller plants in it improved. A remarkable feature was the 
rapid and vigorous growth of Impatiens repens over coral rocks fully exposed 
to the sun. 
Other new herbaceous ornamental plants which have proved successful 
are Rudbeckia purpurea , a small yellow flowered plant received as Zinnia 
linearis, Verbesina sp. (from Calcutta), and Sutton’s pot Nasturtium. 
A large number of seedling plants of local trees were planted in various 
parts of the Gardens Jungle, especially in places along the borders where 
there are gaps. Unfortunately many of these young trees were damaged 
by monkeys. 
The lake. — Seeds of Victoria regia obtained from Kew germinated, but 
all the seedlings kept in Singapore died. One plant which was given to 
the Superintendent of Gardens, Johore, survived and came to maturity in 
the Istana Gardens; from this plant fresh seeds were obtained and by the 
end of the year three plants were established in the Singapore Gardens lake. 
The flue specimen of Pandanus kaida, with its pyramid of stilt roots, which 
adorned the island in the lake for many years, lost the last of its Tranches 
during- the year, and has been removed. 
AR 
