132 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



pleasure. In accordance with this plan, about 3500 yards of walks 

 have been obliterated ; while 2600 yards of curvilinear walks have 

 been made in the Botanic Gardens. While the introduction of 

 broad lawns give infiuite beauty to the landscape, it also renders 

 easy the task of keeping the area so treated in good order. The 

 new lawus which have been formed in the Botanic Gardens are kept 

 in thorough order by a one-horse machine, attended by one man ; 

 and the work is efficiently done in this manner, whereas a garden 

 cut up with innumerable straight paths, with narrow borders and 

 mean edgings, requires continual attention, and a far greater amount 

 of labour. To obviate this as far as possible, I have adopted the 

 system of broad grass edgiugs, which maintain a regular, smooth 

 appearance at a minimum cost of labour. The high opinions I 

 expressed in my two previous annual reports respecting the Buffalo 

 grass as being a splendid grass for lawns, has been practically 

 demonstrated in these Gardens. It is also a very valuable grass for 

 resisting the encroachment of sand on the coast, besides possessing 

 other admirable qualities. 



" Trees numbering 6S2, aud averaging in height from 7 to 35 

 feet, were removed to the new lawns from the thickets bordering 

 the old paths, and only five of the number died — an acacia, two 

 Pittosporums, a Pinus insignia, and a Grevillea robusta — all of which 

 are plentifully represented in the Gardens. The trees thus removed 

 are doing well, aud successfully withstood the two months' exces- 

 sively hot weather at the close of the summer. 



"A lawn of several acres in extent, planted with Buffalo grass, 

 has been formed on a space sloping down to the Botanic Gardens 

 lake. It includes portions formerly occupied by the emu pens and 

 monkey cages, and a part divided into segments by eight walks, 

 three of which were parallel a few yards from each other. The 

 Palms, Cycads, Bamboos, Pampas grass, Arundo, Yuccas, Agaves, 

 Cordylines, Dracseuas, &c, which have also been planted singly and 

 in groups on this lawn, give a general tropical effect, creating a 

 variety of striking views from different points of observation. Two 

 large specimens of Jubasa spectabilis (a hardy palm of great beauty) 

 were brought from the grounds of the late Hon. M. O'Grady, aud 

 planted on this lawn. Top-dressing was found necessary during the 

 summer on account of the hard, clayey nature of the soil, especially 

 in those places where the former pathways led down to the lake, and 

 across the spot where the fern gully now exists. A rustic summer- 

 house with thatched roof has been erected near the rockery. The 

 wood of which this house is built was obtained from the wattle scrub 

 on the Yarra bank. It presents a neat and appropriate appearance, 

 and will be supplied with water for drinking purposes — a matter 

 which requires attention throughout the Gardens, before the sum- 

 mer sets in. At the bridge crossing the lagoon a tap and ladle have 

 been temporarily placed, supplied with drinking water, by a syphon 

 from one of the tanks of rain water at the Director's house. 



" Of course, in lawn making it is always advisable to first of all 

 thoroughly drain the place. If the lawn is an extensive one, and 

 trenching is considered too expensive, the ground should be sub-soil 



