94 



pensive houses have been completed, one as a 

 stove heated by a hot water tank, the other 

 as an intermediate house. The conveniences 

 for propagation have hitherto been but Hmited, 

 and the erection of these two houses was under- 

 taken to supply a want long felt. They have been 

 of great service during the past few months, and 

 will be even more so in future in facilitating the 

 ordinary modes of propagation. ISeveral lattice 

 work screens have also been erected with a view 

 of affording protection to young and freshly 

 potted plants during the summer months. 



A plant of Araucaria imhricata (Tlie Chili Pine) 

 about eight feet high, but of stunted growth, has 

 produced two Cones, from which about one hun- 

 dred seedlings have been raised. This fact is 

 very interesting, not only on account of the 

 smallness of the plant, but also because it is 

 generally understood that the genus araucaria pro- 

 duces its male and female plants on separate plants, 

 and that properly fertilised seed can only be ob- 

 tained when the plants are growing in proximity 

 to one another. In this case, however, we have a 

 small isolated plant j^i'oducing flowers of both 

 sexes, and fertile cones from which seedlings have 

 been raised. It is probably the first time Araucaria 

 imhricata has produced fertile cones in the Aus- 

 tralian Colonies. 



Between three and fourhundrednewplants, many 

 of them of considerable merit,liave been introduced. 



The estimated number of Visitors was 37,476, 

 being an increase of 12,810 over last year. This 

 increase may partially be accounted for by the 

 interest taken in the construction of the Ixailway 

 works in the Gardens. 



MUSEUM. 



In reference to the list of presentations it will 



