146 NFW SOUTH WALES. 



Carnations, pinks, picotees, and all members of tlie Diantlius family 

 thrive to great perfection, and are very useful and ornamental flowers 

 for the garden. The variety of carnation most preferred is that known 

 as the ''^Tree, or Perpetual-flowering,^' which blooms for the greater part 

 of the year. Considerable interest has been taken in the carnation 

 lately, and flowers of great excellence, and in great quantity, are 

 grown by florists for decorative purposes. Plants need attention and 

 watering during very dry weather, or they may die off suddenly. Some 

 fine varieties of the tree Carnation have been produced in the Colony. 



Bulbs and tuberous-rooted plants succeed admirably in various parts 

 of the Colony^ and many of them need little or no care after they are 

 once planted. They may be left in the ground year after year with 

 impunity, unless it is thought necessary to thin them out. Great 

 quantities of Daffodils, Liliums, Jonquils, Hyacinths, Snowflakes, and 

 Snowdrops are grown by the nurseymen and florists for sale during 

 the season. Some of them succeed best in elevated coolest parts of the 

 Colony. Hippeastrums succeed admirably, and without any care. 

 Some fine hybrids have been raised in the Colony from time to time by 

 amateurs and others. 



Pelargoniums were at one time great favourites, but although still 

 grown largely, interest in them seems to have fallen off considerably ; 

 the reason probably being that they can be grown so easily — almost 

 like weeds, if permitted. The same thing may be said with respect to 

 manv other kinds of plants which are glass-house treasures in some 

 countries. Indeed^ some plants which have been introduced for 

 ornamental purposes thrive so well that they have become great pests, 

 as, for instance, a Lantana from China ; and the prickly-pear, Opuntia 

 vulgaris, which has spread to such an extent in some parts of the 

 Colony that vast tracts of country have been ruined by it for pastoral 

 purposes. The sweetbriar, also a garden favourite in some countries, 

 has spread here almost beyond control ; and the common blackberry 

 has become a great pest in some places, and most difficult to eradi- 

 cate. Numbers and numbers of species of beautiful trees, shrubs, and 

 flowering plants thrive in this Colony in great perfection. Magnolias 

 of various kinds, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Cactuses, Abutillons, Palms, 

 Yuccas, Bamboos, Berberis, Crataegus, Daphne, Jacaranda, Deutzia, 

 Dracaenas, Gardenia, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Lasiandra, Spirea, Annuals 

 of almost every kind, Perennials, and beautiful creepers of wonderful' 

 variety are quite at home in the various climates. It is not possible, 

 here to mention the names of more than a very few of the exotics] 

 which have become quite acclimatised. 



Our native flora abounds with many species of beautiful floweringj 

 plants and Palms, Ferns, and Macrozamias well adapted for cultivation 

 in our gardens, and some of them are used with great effect, although ' 

 others are somcAvhat difficult to grow under cultivation, strange as 

 this may appear to the uninitiated. 



In the rich semi-tropical districts in the north-east of the Colony, and 

 in patches extending considerably to the soiith of Sydney, near the 

 coast, the indigenous vegetation is extremely beautiful, especially that 

 in the north. Here and there in this rich country may be seen vast 

 groups of graceful Palms, the Bangalow, Pytchosperma CnnniiKjhamii ; 

 the beautiful little Walking-stick Palm, or Midgimbill, Areca or 



