1921] WILSON, NOTES FROM AUSTRALASIA, III. 51 



the more exserted anthers. The form considered the type is more similar 

 to L. ovalifolium, but among the numerous seedlings raised of this hy- 

 brid, there are several, as Nos. 1, 37, and 38 which in the shape of the 

 inflorescence and in habit are nearer to L. obtusifolium, but they differ 

 in the glabrescent branchlets, leaves and inflorescence. 



As an ornamental shrub and hedge plant it is superior to the popular 

 California Privet (L. ovalifolium) on account of its greater hardiness 

 and the fact that it branches more fully from the very base. 



Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. f. xanthocarpum, f. nov. 



A typo recedit fructu pallide luteo. 



Cultivated at the Arnold Arboretum under No. 10140; specimens 

 collected on September 13, 1921, preserved in the herbarium of the Ar- 

 nold Arboretum. 



This handsome new yellow-fruited form was received in 1919 from 

 Mr. J. H. Bowditch of Pomfret, Conn., and fruited this year for the first 

 time in the Arnold Arboretum. With its light yellow fruits it will prove 

 a valuable addition to the Viburnums with ornamental fruits and forms 

 a pleasing contrast to the typical V. dilatatum with dark red fruits. 



(To be continued) 



NOTES FROM AUSTRALASIA, III. 



THE HOBART BOTANICAL GARDENS 



E. H. Wilson 



The Hobart Botanical Gardens adjoin the grounds of Government House 

 and are situated on the right bank of the River Derwent about one mile 

 from the business centre of Hobart city. The site is a hillside, roughly 

 crescent-shaped, some 27 acres in extent, laid out in a series of terraces 

 sloping toward the river, a fine tidal stream, about a mile wide at this 

 point. The situation is decidedly good, the steep, sloping banks affording 

 protection from winds. The soil is black diabase, rather heavy, of ex- 

 cellent quality though here and there it is shallow. Under the name 

 Colonial Gardens the commencement appears to have begun in 1818 14 

 but little progress was made prior to 1828 when Governor Arthur ap- 

 pointed William Davidson to be the first superintendent, at a salary of 

 £100 per annum with a ration and a house to live in. We are told that 



under Mr. Davidson the Gardens developed rapidly and that among 

 other activities he gathered seeds of 150 species of native plants on the 

 slopes and summit of Mt. Wellington to grow in the Gardens. By 1830 

 the area enclosed was about 13 acres and twelve gardeners and twelve 

 of the convict chain-gang were employed in cultivating the garden and 



14 See "The foundation and early work of the Society" by E. L. Piesse in Papers 

 & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania (1913). 



