886 A. EF. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 
The Public Garden. 
In 1896 an Act was passed to establish a Public Garden. Mr. 
Nathaniel Vesey, M.C.P., was largely influential in promoting this 
very worthy enterprise. The land purchased was to be not less than 
ten acres, and not to cost over £1550. A sum not exceeding £550, 
was provided for buildings, ete. It was to be entirely under the 
management and control of the Board of Agriculture. Salary of 
superintendent was to be £300, and the running expenses not over 
£150, annually. The Annual Reports to the Board of Agriculture 
to be published. ‘Ten acres of land were bought in 1898, in Paget 
Parish, near Hamilton, and a house was built. Mr. Geo, A. Bishop 
was appointed superintendent, in 1898. His first report was on the 
“« Diseases affecting the Lily in Bermuda, their cause, treatment, and 
prevention.” Of this, 500 copies were printed and distributed. 
In 1899, additional grants were made for glass houses. The work 
of improving and planting the grounds has progressed very favor- 
ably. It will, without doubt, eventually become a very attractive 
place, and also of great benefit to the people, on account of the 
experiments and investigations that will be conducted there in agri- 
culture and horticulture. At present the appropriations for its 
expenses seem very inadequate. 
The Wild Birds Protection Act, 1902. [2nd September, 1902. | 
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the Acts mentioned in the second 
schedule hereto : 
Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Legislative Council and Assembly of 
the Bermudas or Somers Islands as follows :— 
1. Any person who shall knowingly and wilfully shoot or attempt to shoot, 
or shall use any boat for the purpose of shooting or causing to be shot, any 
wild bird included in the first schedule to this Act, or shall use any lime, trap, 
snare, net or other instrument for the purpose of taking, capturing, or destroy- 
ing any such wild bird, or shali expose or offer for sale, or have in his control 
or possession, any such wild bird, shall, on conviction of any such offence 
before any Justice of the Peace, forfeit and pay for every such wild bird in 
respect of which an offence has been committed, a sum not exceeding one 
pound, in addition to the costs, unless such person shall satisfy the Justice 
hearing the complaint that such wild bird came into the possession of such per- 
son before the passing of this Act under circumstances which would not have 
rendered such person liable to any penalty or forfeiture under either of the 
Acts mentioned in the said second schedule, or that such wild bird was sent to 
these Islands by some person residing out of these Islands, or was the offspring 
of birds kept in captivity before the passing of this Act. 
