iter it l©T«i© ©jypiw 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



Natal Botanic Gardens, Bebea, 



Durban, July, 1908. 



To the President and Committee, 

 Natal Botanic Society. 



Gentlemen, — Id presenting as usual my Annual Report, 

 I am pleased to be able to state that during the year now 

 ended the weather has been most favourable, and I have no 

 losses of consequence to report, the only one of importance being 

 that of our only tree of Ginnamorniwi cassia reported on last 

 year as having suffered by the bark having been removed from 

 it by depredators, most likely Indians; it had begun to grow 

 again, but was attacked for the second time, and the bark 

 removed even from the roots, and it is now quite dead. During 

 the greater 'part of the year we have been short-handed, and 

 in consequence no work of importance could be undertaken; the 

 main walks have been laid with ashes, which, though not the 

 best material for the purpose is at any rate better than the 

 ant-heap which was formerly used and which rendered the 

 walks very unpleasant after rain. 



In consequence of the very great reduction in the Govern- 

 ment Grant no collecting trip could be undertaken this year; 

 the staff both Europeans and coloured has been considerably 

 reduced, and also the salaries of those that remain, so that all 

 that can be expected at present will be the necessary routine' 

 work — improvements are out of the question. 



The Tram line has now been extended to the Sydenham 

 Road entrance to the grounds, and a tram is dispatched every 

 half hour each way; the matter of its extension through the 

 upper portion of the ground is still under consideration. 



, 



