186 REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 
The tall Indian Bamboo has been aeclimatized, and is, with other 
Bambusacee and the Nile Papyrus, chosen to fringe the lake. Ina 
climate like ours, which admits of the culture of so many tropical 
plants without glass protection, it is always an important object to 
group the greatest possible number of prominently remarkable plants 
from various parts of the globe suitably together. This, indeed, is one 
of the greatest charms in our horticulture. "Throughout the Garden 
ground numerous new species have been added annually, predominance 
being given to such shrubs and perennial plants as entail the least 
attention for maintenance. Were it otherwise, so extensive an area 
could not be maintained in sightliness, whilst here throughout the year 
the growth of weeds, annually more diversified, is to be coped with. 
And even now it is unavoidable to cover the central portions of all the 
shrubberies densely with perennial grasses, an operation which could 
not have been effected a few years ago, because the plants, then small, 
would have become suffocated. Plantations have also been formed at 
the stately girder-bridge, a structure which reflects high credit on the 
Department of Public Works. Whenever the lower part of Anderson 
Street is to be filled up, then the dyke now forming the approach to 
the bridge ought to be reduced. 
The whole area of the Garden and arboreta now laid out comprises 
nearly 400 acres, including the lake with its six islands. To the latter, 
a seventh requires to be added, on the north-western extremity. By 
the extensive excavations on the lagoon, the once inundated Eastern 
Tea-tree ground has now been completely reclaimed, and forms a minia- 
ture forest, readily accessible to picnic parties from the river. Turf 
soil is by these means also easily obtained for Nursery culture. The 
work connected with the excavations also enabled me to establish pas- 
sages across three of the bends of the lake, whereby the distance from 
point to point has been conveniently lessened. It allowed, also, widen- 
ing the causeway and securing good soil for the Garden. Unrestricted 
access for carriages is given to all the rising ground in the reserve, 
from which such panoramic views may be enjoyed over the city, 
suburban landscapes, and bay; and it is anticipated that, whilst from 
year to year the park trees will afford augmented shade and shelter, 
the locality indicated will become to residents of the city one of the 
easiest and most favourite resorts for recreative enjoyments. A proposi- 
tion, suggested in one of my former Reports, that the paths along the 
