REPORT. 



Botanic Gardens, 



January, 1895. 



To the President and Committee, 



Durban Botanic Society. 



Gentlemen, 



Once more I am pleased to have to record the occurrence of a 

 very favourable season. Rains have been frequent and fairly plentiful, 

 and we have not during any part of the year suffered seriously from 

 drought. The meteorological observations taken at the Observatory 

 in the N.W. corner of the Gardens have been kindly supplied by the 

 Government Astronomer, and are attached to this Report. 



It was stated in my report for last year that the native and Indian 

 houses required attention, and I am glad to be able to say that sub- 

 stantial buildings have now been erected of brick, with galvanised iron 

 roofs. The Kafir-house is in the upper part of the ground, above the 

 Herbarium and Store-room, which has been found the most convenient 

 site, and it is quite large enough to accommodate all the natives we 

 shall be likely to employ for many years to come. The Indian quarters 

 are in the lower or S.W. corner of the ground, near St. Thomas' Road, 

 and here a building has been erected also of brick with iron roof, which 

 accommodates about half of the men with their families. Another 

 building of similar size and character will have to be erected as soon 

 as circumstances will admit of it, and then the accommodation for our 

 coloured labourers will be complete. 



The next work to be undertaken will, I would suggest, be a new 

 Conservatory, and I hope that durimg the present year this may be 

 commenced. The present building is not nearly large enough to con- 

 tain our stock of plants, which is constantly on the increase, and is in 

 want of repairs, which cannot well be undertaken without removing 

 the plants. The site of the old store seems to me to be the most 

 suitable place for the new building, and it would, I think, be advisable 

 to erect it in three sections, the central house to be erected as soon as 

 convenient, and the two wings as soon as circumstances will allow, 

 and I hope in my next report to have to chronicle the completion of 

 the first section of this work. 



