170 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



All has not been done, however, in regard to our native vegeta- 

 tion in the Gardens that perhaps might have been. It may be 

 possible to further develop an increasing interest in our native 

 flora by enlarging the area devoted to AustraHan vegetation in 

 the Gardens for Victorian species, and in indicating by a specially 

 tinted label in that plantation all such species, so that they may 

 be readily observed by visitors ; or by setting apart an additional 

 area in the vicinity or elsewhere exclusively for Victorian plants. 



In order to make this paper of somewhat practical value, I 

 would like to suggest to my fellow-members and to readers of the 

 Victoi'ian Naturalist that our native plants should not be over- 

 looked when planting their estates or city or suburban gardens, 

 as I hold that for beauty of foliage or flowers (both in many 

 instances united), effective handsomeness of general appearance, 

 and capability of ready cultivation with ordinary care and atten- 

 tion, numbers of such plants cannot be surpassed for the purpose, 

 and become increasingly valuable for mingling judiciously with 

 other familiar and desirable exotic vegetation. 



To show that a large number of Victorian plants are available 

 for different purposes of a general gardening character, I append 

 a series of selections of six species. In each case this has been 

 made from those which from one's experience of their cultivation 

 and growth in the Botanic Gardens, as well as observation of 

 them elsewhere, have either proved or suggested them to be the 

 best or good typical plants of their kinds and suitable for the 

 purposes specified. Every selection has been made with a view 

 to provide species having distinctive characteristics — this in order 

 to allow of one or more, or even the whole six, being planted, as 

 considered desirable. 



The following are the lists : — 



Six Acacias. — A. acinacea, A. discolor, A. lunata, A. myrtifolia, 

 A. oxycedrus, and A. pycnantha. 



Six Eucalypts. — E. amygdahna, E. botryoides, E. hsemastoma, 

 E. melliodora, E. rostrata, and E. sideroxylon. 



Six Ornamental Trees. — Angophora intermedia, Banksia integri- 

 folia, Callitris cupressiformis, Elaeocarpus cyaneus, Exocarpus 

 cupressiformis, and Pittosporum undulatum. 



Sio: Ornaviental Tall Shrubs. — Nephelium leiocarpum, Bursaria 

 spinosa, Melaleuca Preissiana, Myrsine variabilis, Tristania laurina, 

 and Westringia rosmariniformis. 



Six Ornamental Flowering Shrubs. — Callistemon lanceolatus, 

 Calythrix Sullivani, Epacris longiflora, Eriostemon myoporoides, 

 Prostanthera lasianthos, and Thryptomene Mitchelliana. 



Six Smaller Flowering Shrubs. — Bauera rubioides, Bossiaea 

 cinerea, Grevillea ericifolia, Hibbertia stricta, Leucopogon virgatus, 

 and Tetratheca ciliata. 



Six Plants suitable for Undergrowths, or surface covering of the 



