209 
partly by absorbing the site of the old house and grounds of the 
director. The lower garden was formed by enclosing and 
bringing into cultivation that portion of land between the middle 
garden and Farm Cove. 
" In the year 1817 Mrs. Macquarie had a Norfolk Island pine 
(raised from seed by Major Antill, it is stated) which had got too 
large for the gubernatorial garden. She gave orders for it to be 
planted in the Government or Botanic Garden. It was placed in 
the middle or intersection of paths of the middle garden, and 
forms what is now known as the ' Wishing Tree.' Said designa- 
tion was given because the custom grew up amongst the damsels 
of Sydney of walking three times round this tree when all their 
wishes would be gratified, and they would be happy. 
"The tree is about 100 ft. high, and it would appear to have 
lied its i 
have claimed the honour of planting that tree. Th 
Mr. J. M. Antill stated that his father. Major Antill . 7;'»n 1 \U- 
Aide-decamp to Governor Maequar ■, planted it. Mr. ( 
Fraser, the Superintendent of the Garden, is also credit* 
this honour. Ned Shakeley, a prisoner, afterwards employ 
Mr. J. Baptist in his gardens at Surry Hills, was also sta 
have been the planter; and a friend of mine told me that Mi 
Higgerson (the well-known Assistant Ranger of the National 
who died last year), told him that he 'had a hand' in pi 
this tree. Now, I propose to adjust these claims in the foil 
manner.—- Ned Shakeley dug the hole, Johnny Higgerson 1: 
him his spade and helped him generally, Mr. Fraser turn< 
plant out of the pot to see that it was all right, and Major 
planted it with due ceremonv. Then Mr. Fraser trod the 
about it, staked it, watered it. and tended it during its earl} 
And I have no doul.t that the irascible Governor Macquarie, 
the tactful Mrs. Mac juarie had got him into one of his 
humours of w ks, said one day:—' And n< 
will go and see that little pine, my dear, which Antill tells i 
has planted.' 
" The ' wishing tree' is the most historically interesting pi 
our beautiful Garden. Considering the rich soil which such 
require in their native Norfolk Island, ' * 
situation affords a remarkable example of adaptability to 
ment. T often stand at that snot, contemplate Macqiiarie, 
tthe Garden in 
environment. I often stand at that spot, contemplate 
" Tradition states that Fraser, who was known to have a good 
knowledge of horticulture and a scientific acquaintance with 
botany, acq ui . some of the !.<•-.; establishments 
in Scotland. His various explorations in New South Wales. 
Queensland, and Western Australia in the firs; decades oi the 
last century enriched these Gardens with many notable plants. 
"The five voyages, which included the circumnavigation of 
Australia undertaken l.v Captain P. C. Kin- K.X.. in the twenties 
^ith Allan Cunningham as King's Botanist, was the means of 
introducing to Svdnev manv Australian plants not previously in 
