37 
principal rafters, underwent considerable repair. Improved 
accommodation for the smaller succulent plants was provided 
by converting a large span frame into a low house, and this 
has given satisfactory results. Such a house was necessary 
owing to the purchase of a valuable collection of Mesembry- 
anthemums formed by the late Mr H. G. Elisha, Canonbury. 
Other purchases of importance were a collection of Australian 
seeds from Mr T. Richardson, Elmhurst, Victoria, and green- 
house plants from Messrs Haage and Schmidt, Erfurt 
new Lecture room for the use of the Student Gardeners 
has been fitted up and is now in use, so that it is possible for 
two courses of lectures to be given simultaneously. 
Arboretum.—The most laborious undertaking in this Depart- 
ment has been the removal of mud from the Lake bottom. The 
last time it was done was during the winter of 1906-1907 (see 
K.B. 1907, p. 101), so that there has been a fifteen years’ 
accumulation; this varied in depth in different parts of the 
Lake from four to eighteen inches. Sixteen of the regular labour 
staff were set to work in November, their places in the ordinary 
gang being taken by the same number of unemployed men in 
the neighbourhood. Owing to fine open weather, the work 
has proceeded very satisfactorily and will probably be finished 
early in February. 
The Natural Order Hamamelidaceae or witch-hazel family, 
although small, is a very interesting one and the species in 
cultivation have been considerably increased ma recent a aa 
tion in China. Two new genera have been made, Sinowilsonia 
and Fortunearia, both commemorating famous plant siaeoteds 
in China. To provide adequate accommodation for these new 
introductions a miscellaneous shrubbery immediately north- 
east of King Wil'iam’s Temple was cleared away last February 
and the site devoted to the witch-hazels and their allies, of 
which the gaelegia is a complete list now in cultivation in the 
open air at 
Corylopsis nee Mak. Corylopsis ome Rehd. 
ats Gri iffithii, Hemsley. & Wils. 
S paucifiora, Sieb. & sp. Forrest, 13516. 
Zuce. Disanthus cercidifolia, Maxim. 
“ platypetala, Rehd. & er iytttl racemosum, Sieb. & 
i uce. 
; sinensis, Hemsley. Fortunearia sinensis, Rehd. & 
- } ieb. & #£Wils. 
uce. Fothergilla Gardenii, Murray. 
- iy ter. foe ve major, d. 
variegutis, monticola, Ashe. 
Hort. Hi amamelis arborea, Masters. 
a Veitchiana, Bean. 
