et 
REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 189 
than a superficial observer will imagine, inasmuch as the area variedly 
studded with flowers is so extremely extensive. 
The incessant calls, however, to provide for publie fées, tea-meet- 
ings, and bazaars, decorative flowers, not rarely deprive the garden of 
a real show of ornament. The plants throughout the ground are very 
extensively labelled, about 3000 iron labels being employed. Labels, 
however, with fused, and thus unobliterable letters, are here, as elsewhere, 
yet a great desideratum. In the large conservatory all plants are placed, 
for instruction’s sake, along both sides of the stages, so as to represent 
those of the Western and of the Eastern hemisphere separately, the 
plants of the various families being again grouped together. In an in- 
expensive structure, far too modest to do justice to so grand a plant, 
the Royal Water-lily has flowered throughout two seasons, and re- 
peatedly has ripened seeds, available for transmission to the hotter 
parts of Australia. The high temperature of the Victoria House is 
inexpensively provided by its connection with one of the forcing-pits, 
while, in the humid heat, Vanilla and many other epiphytal Orchids of 
the “jungles of the torrid zone find here the conditions necessary for 
their permanent existence. The standard collection of Vines and 
orchard trees has annually been added to. Fruit from these has been 
supplied to public charities. The experimental ground has also an- 
nually grown richer. To attempt to specify the treasures of the Garden, 
whether utilitarian or ornamental (many first introduced by the Director 
into Australia), is beyond the scope of these pages. The special cata- 
logue appended to this document will exhibit many which we possess, 
but not all, inasmuch as thousands of plants occur yet in too young a 
state to correct their erroneous appellations. Mere varieties and garden 
hybrids, as a general rule, have been excluded from the catalogue. In 
a full account of the botanical establishment, submitted by order of the 
Government to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, I specially 
ded to some of the leading useful or remarkable plants. ut an 
explanatory enumeration of all would enlarge to a volume, or might 
nd space in a contemplated publication, which would serve as a 
garden guide. To add still further to this valuable collection, Mr. 
Heyne proceeded, at my request, early this year to Sydney, to select 
from the local conservatories. In this object he was very liberally sup- 
ported by Mr. C. Moore. The suppression of the two principal kinds 
of Missio (Loranthus pendulus and L. celastroides), which, on neg- 
