196 REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 
over the greater part of the Garden area and the adjoining reserves. 
If even during ordinary summers the duty of providing for the safety 
of the extensive plantations proved a source of very great anxiety, and 
of extreme toil, both day and night, then this duty became still more 
onerous during the horrors of an almost rainless summer, when, during 
successive hot winds, the up-growing tree-vegetation, as well as the 
tender garden plants, had to be protected over nearly 400 acres of 
ground against the imminent danger of destruction, and this with an 
inadequate water supply. Happily this difficulty, in a great. measure, 
has now been overcome. 
The expenditure for the raised Yarra water exceeds slightly 4d. per 
1000 gallons. 
New South Wales house coal, sereened, per ton of 2240 lbs., as 
under contract for 1869, £1. 6s. 
The capacity of the small temporary tank to receive the water at the 
summit of the ridge is, however, only 1700 gallons, and until provision 
shall have been made for a spacious and raised tank, as intended, one 
great difficulty will continue, namely, that although a large supply of 
water is available, it can, under faint pressure, only in very limited 
quantity find its way through the ramifications of the former Yan Yean 
pipes to distant higher parts of the Garden and reserves. 
The eight mostly spacious cisterns for the reception of rain-water 
from the roofs of the Garden buildings, and the four iron tanks, will 
be kept filled, to provide against any emergency in the event of break- 
age at the engine. I may still remark that, although during the cooler 
months steam-power will not require to be used every day, neverthe- 
less, any savings then effected in the outlay will need to be expended 
again during the hottest weather, when fourteen hours' daily work of 
the engine will be needed. 
The Geyser fountain in the lake (which for two afternoon hours iu 
eool weather, and then on Sundays only, was worked with Yan Yean 
pressure) has ceased to play. Until the steam-engine was provided the 
Garden enjoyed Yan Yean supply during two night hours (from 3—5 
A.M.), provided in cool weather the pressure admitted of obtaining any 
supply at all; but this boon has now entirely ceased. e whole of 
the former Yan Yean pipes, provided at the expense of the Garden, have 
become available again for the conveyance of the Yarra water. 
The large reserve between the St. Kilda Road and the Yarra is con- 
