124 Botanical Collections. 



their present amount, still much which we wish to know may be confidently 

 expected from the zeal of such members as have the means of assisting us. 

 There are many experiments in the culture of different vegetable productions, 

 which those who have opportunity are constantly making, and it cannot be 

 doubted that any which the institution suggest or desire to engage in, will be 

 aided and attended to by proprietors of farms or gardens ; and thus may the 

 cultivation of native plants, and the introduction of useful exotics, be 

 encouraged and extended. But the association may aim at the higher and 

 more useful object of having an experimental and systematic garden of its 

 own. The council have the pleasure of announcing that the co-operation of 

 its patron may be relied on for the attainment of this most desired object, 

 and that the requisite accommodation as to ground and water may be obtained 

 on the most favourable circumstances. Considering the interest generally 

 felt in this matter, and the extensive gratuitous aid which would undoubtedly 

 be received from members and others, the council do not see any great 

 obstacle in making a beneficial commencement. The funds of the institution 

 would even now admit of the dedication of a small sum to the purpose ; and 

 we have the prospect of being able to afford, annually, as much as, with the 

 zealous co-operation of our members, would preserve it in order. It is con- 

 ceived, therefore, that, by adopting a scale proportioned to our means, and 

 trusting to the perseverance and liberality of our members, a very useful, 

 though it may not be a very imposing establishment, may be attained. We have 

 evidence that such an institution was commenced here before, and that at all 

 times different governors were in the habit of planting in the government 

 gardens any curious plants which they had procured ; and, as they had greater 

 opportunities of making such acquisitions than others, the grounds generally 

 included, as they do now, a considerable variety of interesting objects. Seve- 

 ral, however, which formerly existed there, seem to have disappeared, from 

 their having been no systematic agency for attending to them. In earlier 

 periods, as was to be expected, the government took an active share in the 

 measures necessary for introducing and establishing many of the important 

 species now cultivated, and it is evident that this object, necessary to the 

 improvement of the colony, must have been much facilitated by the oppor- 

 tune receptacle prepared for them in the gardens. The institution may be 

 assured that little else is required but such a receptacle, which for its prepa- 

 ration, security, and maintenance, might require a considerable original and 

 continued effort ; but eventually, as is detailed in a communication read at 

 the commencement of our sittings, every other requisite would pour in from 

 the donations of many who are anxious to have such means of rendering 

 their acquisitions useful, and from the exchanges which we should have ample 

 opportunities of effecting. The council would, therefore, eagerly anticipate 

 such exertions from the institution, and such aid from those who are inclined 

 to favour the scheme, as may lead to the early formation of an efficient fund 

 for it, and to the ultimate establishment of a repository, so much beyond all 

 other collections of nature's grand and lovely efforts, as there every object 

 stands where it loves most to display its peculiar beauty, and each is to be 

 contemplated, not, as in other repositories, in unnatural dislocation and repose, 



but glowing in the beautiful animation of life's progress and development. 



South African Quarterly Journal, No. III. July, 1830. Want of room 

 prevents us from making any observations on the praiseworthy institution 

 to which the above report relates. We cannot, however, prevent ourselves 

 from here remarking, that its members are most zealous in their exertions 

 to extend the knowledge of the natural history of the interesting country 

 in which it is their good fortune to be placed, and much may be expected 

 from their labours Ed. 



