3 



advisability of making a new entrance to the Garden from its 

 lower boundary, and if that were done it would be the main 

 entrance to the ground, since it would be accessible from every 

 part of the town and suburbs. As soon, therefore, as reliable 

 information can be obtained as to the direction of the road, 

 and ultimately of the tram line, it will be necessary for us to 

 prepare by clearing the ground, which at present is thickly 

 covered with light bush, and laying it out in readiness for 

 opening the new entrance. 



In consequence of the great scarcity of coloured labour 

 during a large portiion of the year, nothing has been done 

 towards removing the old conservatory and enlarging the 

 fernery, as mentioned in my last Report, and as material and 

 labour is at present very expensive, the matter has been 

 allowed to stand over, but has not been lost sight of It will, 

 I think, be better to have this work done by contract, and, I 

 hope, during the coming year. 



The tank so kindly built by the Durban Corporation on the 

 top of the old reservoir has proved very attractive to visitors, 

 several varieties of Nymphce.a have been ^rown in it and have 

 been constantly in flower. The Victoria regia for which a 

 special well was made in the centre of the tank bore several 

 flowers, and was a great attraction. The " gold fish," of which 

 we obtained a dozen or more, have increased until now there 

 are probably oue or two hundreds, and will have to be reduced 

 in number during the winter. 



The plant labels alluded to in my last Report arrived dur- 

 ing the year, and have been put into their places. They are 

 not so conspicuous as the enamelled ones previously obtained, 

 but will, I believe, last much longer, and are quite suitable for 

 the purpose. 



During the visit of Mr. Peter Barr, V.M.R. to the Colony, 

 he recommended that we should try some Daffodils, feeling 

 sure that they would succeed here. He made a selection of the 

 most likely varieties for us to try, and a box of bulbs was 

 obtained. They arrived in very fair order, and at the time of 

 writing some 15 or more of the varieties have commenced to 

 grow, but so far no flowers have appeared ; whether the bulbs 

 will live for another season is as yet uncertain, but it is worth 

 a trial. 



The following plants have flowered in the Gardens for the 

 first time : — 



Bignonia purpurea Nymphcea Zanzibar ensis 



Brassaia actinophylla ,, „ var azurea 



Nymphsea alba ,, ,, var rosea 



„ coerulea Stenocarpus sinuatus 



,, gracilis Victoria regia 



„ pygmaea 



