3 6 4 Domestic Notices : — Ireland. 



urge the advantage of procuring the attendance, in the evenings, of a respect- 

 able person, to improve the grammatical education of the boys ; and the 

 benefit of establishing a school in the neighbourhood of the garden (a locality 

 where it is much wanted). They referred to the laudable example of the 

 public gardens in Scotland, where the education of the youths does not cease 

 on their becoming apprentices. With respect to expenditure, the Committee 

 state that that part under the control of the curator has not exceeded the 

 expense of former years, though the garden is in a much higher state of keep- 

 ing. Extra-expense has, of course, been incurred, in consequence of the con- 

 tract, in forming the grounds and lawn in front of the buildings, in repairing 

 walks injured by carting materials, in draining and trenching the lawn in 

 front of the curator's house, in drain-tiling walks, &c. ; but, when the 

 greater part of these works is considered to be permanent, and when the cost 

 is compared with that of other establishments, the Committee express their 

 opinion, that much credit is due to the curator for economy and anxious 

 exertion to meet the wishes of his employers. As a proof of the increasing 

 popularity of the garden, the report stated, that the number of visiters had 

 vastly exceeded even last year's; while the list of shareholders and annual 

 subscribers had also been augmented. 



The curator's annual report stated that, among other operations in the 

 garden, since the last annual meeting, the ground in front of the new buildings 

 had been levelled and prepared, to correspond with the park at the head of 

 which the houses stand, so as to give the best aspect the situation admitted of. 

 The line of the former cross-walk had been altered, and lowered at the west 

 end, so as to give sufficient elevation to the base of the building on that side. 

 Considerable additions had been made to the rockwork round the middle 

 pond, now considered the most interesting spot in the garden ; and man}"^ 

 strangers have pronounced this piece of rockwork the most natural they have 

 seen. About 300 species of plants have been added to the British collection, 

 now containing nearl}' 700. The natural arrangement has also been con- 

 siderably increased. The ground which was formerly occupied as a nursery 

 has now been converted into a garden for fruit and culinary vegetables. It 

 contains three fourths of an acre, and will, consequently, afford good scope 

 for rearing vegetables of the most approved sorts, and hardy fruit, besides 

 affording the apprentices an opportunity of acquiring a thorough knowledge of 

 horticulture and botany, as well as the cultivation of plants. At present, there 

 are four highly respectable and well-conducted lads in the garden, who, it is 

 expected, will soon be extremely useful to the curator, who suggests that 

 they should be supplied with a collection of books similar to those used in 

 other botanical establishments. The exotic arboretum, formed two years since, 

 is in a state of perfect health, and many of the plants flowering beautifully. 

 The curator had visited Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, and added consi- 

 derably to the collections, from public and private botanical institutions in 

 these places, with which the most friendly intercourse subsists. It is con- 

 sidered, that by these additions, and the numerous donations receiving, the 

 Belfast Botanic Garden bids fair to hold a place with most other collections in 

 the kingdom. During the past year, the number of visiters, including those 

 present at the midsummer fete, amounted nearly to 50,000, among whom were 

 strangers of distinction, from various parts of the world. 



Mr. J. Montgomery stated, as evidence of the increasing popularity of the 

 garden, that, from 29th April, 1839, till the 29th Feb. 18i0, a period of little 

 more than ten months, the visiters amounted to 29,578. 



Mr. Robert Patterson made a suggestion, for the consideration of the Com- 

 mittee, that respectable tradesmen, with their wives and families, should be 

 admitted into the garden, on one evening in the week, for two or three months 

 of the summer, on the recommendation of a subscriber, and on payment of 

 such trifling sum for admission as should be within their means. It was decided, 

 however, that this meeting had no power to press a rule on the subject, as one 

 of the fundamental rules of the Society would be infringed by it. (^Northern 

 Whig, May 19. 1840.) 



