36 



hill, until the highest part of the Do m aim be reached, thus 

 enabling the citizens of Hobart and visitors from the colonies 

 to view from their carriages the fine scenery of the valley of 

 the Derwent. I may mention, along this proposed route the 

 Duke of Edinburgh was taken in order that he might view the 

 lovely panorama. 



(9.) I should advise that a donation and presentation list, 

 under the heading of" For improvements to Queen's Domain," 

 be opened, to enable the citizens of Hobart and the public 

 generally to help forward this national undertaking. 



In conclusion, I hope that by the next monthly meeting 

 of this Society the Domain Committee will have been 

 formed, a sketch plan approved of, and all that are willing and 

 able enlisted in this noble undertakino-. 



ON THE QUESTION OF ESTABLISHING IN THE 

 EOYAL SOCIETY'S OAEDENS A CLASS-OROUND, 

 OR SYSTEMATIC ARRANdEMENT ILLUSTRATING 

 THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS ACCORDING 

 TO THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



By Thomas Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., V.P. 



[Bead Sth August, 1881.] 



Some three years ago I brought under the consideration of 

 the Council the question of setting apart a small portion of 

 the Gardens, in a central position, for the cultivation of 

 selected plants, illustrating the principal Natural Orders, and 

 arranged according to their botanical classification. At that 

 time we had the advantage of the presence and co-operation 

 of the late Rev. W. W. Spicer, and the Council gladly 

 accepted his offer to take the matter in hand, but after some 

 preliminary inquiry it appeared that the planning and com- 

 pletion of the new entrance to the Gardens would occu^^y all 

 the labour under Mr. Abbott's direction for a long time, and 

 no further action was taken. Some other obstacles were 

 pointed out by Mr. Abbott at the time, but I subsequently 

 learned that these had reference to the question of forming a 

 collection of the indigenous plants of Tasmania, which was 

 not then contemplated by the Council. 



In August of last year the subject was again mooted by 

 Mr. Barnard in connection with other suggested improve- 

 ments, but there was no definite plan before the Council, and 

 nothing more was done until a few months ago, when I 



