144 ^'^^^^ SOUTH WALES. 



more properly be introduced than at the close of his government. An accurate survey of 

 the whole ground in cultivation, both on account of tlie Crown and in the ijossession of 

 individuals, had been taken by the Surveyor-General and transmitted to England by that 

 ship ; and from the return ■which he then made the following particulars were extracted : — 

 Ground in cultivation, IG October, 1792— in wheat, '2OS2 acres ; in barley, 1\\ acres; in 

 maize, l,186i acres ; garden ground, I2I2 acres ; ground cleared of tindjer, lG2i acres ; 

 total number of acres, 1,703,^. 



Sucli was tlie initiation of Horticulture into Australia, a small 

 beginning, but gradually to develop into an important industry. It 

 was doubtless exceedingly difficult and expensive in the early days of 

 the Colony to introduce plants from distant countries by means of tbe 

 slow sailing sliips, wliicli took montlis on the voyage from England. 

 So different to the present time, when the latest horticultural novel- 

 ties can beol)tained here almost as soon as they are in the market in 

 England^ and oftentimes very much cheaper. 



Amongst the earliest of private individuals to develop horticulture 

 was Mr. John Macarthur, of Camden Park. The late Sir Wm. 

 Macarthur and the present Mrs. Macarthur Onslow^ have continued 

 this work in a pi'aiseworthy degree. 



The Australian Agricultural Company appears to have introduced 

 many different kinds of plants to its larg-e estate, north of Port 

 Stephens, and the remains of old gardens may still be seen about the 

 pretty little village of Stroud, which was once the head-quarters of 

 the Company. This village was once greatly famed for its gardens. 



Much good work in developing a taste for horticulture has been 

 effected through the medium of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. "When 

 these gardens were first started, in 181G, the work seems to have 

 been confined pretty well to the cultivating of fruits and economic 

 l^lants, and until the present Director, Mr. Chas. Moore, F.L.S., was 

 appointed in 181-7. These gardens have been gradually so greatly 

 improved under his direction that they are now renowned throughout 

 the world for their beauty and usefulness. 



Here we now have a magnificent collection of plants, and repre- 

 sentatives from nearly every country in the Avorld, growing side by 

 side in great perfection. As might be expected, a vast amount of 

 horticultural or botanical knowledge can be acquired here by anyone 

 interested, and days may be spent with profit. Some years ago the 

 annual exhibitions of the Horticultui\al Society used to be held on the 

 law]i in the Lower Garden, and very attractive and interesting they were. 



This Society seems to have had its origin about 1848, in the Aus- 

 tralasian Botanic and Horticultural Society. It then became the 

 Australian Horticultural and Agricultural Societ}^, and afterwards 

 developed into the Horticultural Society of New South Wales. Much 

 good has been effected by this Society in improving horticulture and 

 developing a taste for the beautiful and useful in flowers, fruits, 

 plants, and vegetables. 



A few years ago many of our loading citizens were deeply interested 

 in gardening, and encouraged a love for the art by their example. 

 Amongst them were the late Messrs. T. S. Mort, H. Prince, H. Moore, 

 H. H. Bradley, Dr. Bennett, C. Stephen, J. Young, and the then well- 

 known nurserymen the late Messrs. T. W . Shepherd, K. Henderson, 

 — Guilfoyle, J. Graham, and J. Baptist. 



