36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



A Descriptive Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 



By W. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., Director. Melbourne : J. Kemp, 



Government Printer. Price, one shilling. 

 The previous guide to the Gardens, noticed in these pages 

 some time ago {Vict. Nat., xix., p. 66) having been sold out, the 

 Director, in issuing a new edition, has taken the opportunity to 

 rewrite and considerably enlarge the handbook. Its value is 

 greatly increased by the inclusion of a number of views 

 of striking scenes, trees, &c., in the gardens, including 

 a large panoramic view of that portion of the grounds 

 which was added by the completion of the Yarra improve- 

 ment works in 1905. A large coloured plan is included, but 

 again no indication is given of its scale. We do not, 

 however, see the necessity of repeating the plan of the gardens 

 prior to 1873 — byegones should be bygones. The book has no 

 pretensions to be a complete catalogue of the plants to be found 

 in the Gardens, but the "Descriptive Tour Through the Gardens" 

 is very fully written, and indexed in such a way that the visitor 

 entering at any of the gates can at once join the supposed party, 

 and see for himself the more important trees, shrubs, &c., 

 as he passes along. A reference to the smaller route map 

 on page 19 will show that the whole of the Gardens is 

 visited in turn. We regret that when issuing a new guide the 

 opportunity was not taken of associating the late Baron von 

 Mueller's name with one of the lawns, while the present 

 Director's name should undoubtedly be associated with 

 another, and we would suggest that the authorities be asked 

 to alter the names of tlie " Eastern" and "Southern " lawns to 

 " Mueller " and " Guilfoyle " lawns respectively. The list of 

 memorial trees is rapidly increasing, but few of them will have 

 greater interest to young Victorians than the grand old red gum 

 figured on page 51, under which was held a notable political 

 meeting on ist July, 1851, when it was resolved to urge the 

 separation of Victoria, or rather the Port Phillip District, from the 

 mother colony. New South Wales, and the creation of a new 

 colony. A plan of the system house will be found very useful 

 by the student of botany, while the size of the blocks devoted to 

 each order will give some indication of the importance of the 

 various orders of plants. Plans are also given of the arrangement 

 of the Museum of Economic Botany and Plant Products, which 

 will be useful to the student wishing to rapidly find any particular 

 specimen. An index of botanical names and another of common 

 names complete the guide, which should have a ready sale. 



