124 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. 



The Australians have shown commendable spirit 

 and enterprise in the formation of botanical an i 

 horticultural gardens. There is scarcely a town oJ 

 any size which has not at least a botanical garden 

 and everywhere we went we found public parks sei 

 apart and adorned with native and foreign trees an< | 

 shrubbery. 



I think in this respect the Australians outdo al 

 peoples whom 1 know. 



These lines are written not so much to praise as t< 

 if possible, stimulate others, but especially Canadian- 

 for I fear we are far behind in this respect. 



The city of Melbourne, including its suburbs, has n 

 less than seventy-eight parks and public garden- 

 embracing in all 5,101 acres. The Royal Park ha 

 444 acres, Botanic Gardens, 235, Fitzroy Garden, in 

 mediately in rear of Parliament buildings, has sixt} 

 four acres. This park is most beautifully kept. 



Statuary adorns all the walks, foreign and nativ 

 trees are all luxuriant. Roses are almost always i 

 bloom. The ferns in the low valley tempt you to ha 

 for a little and admire their lovely fronds. 



When one is tired with the toil of the day ai: 

 choked with the dust of the city, he is rested whi 



