The new Jubilee Conservatory, to the erection of which the 

 Durban public have contributed so liberally, will we hope 

 arrive by the end of February, and the ground where it is to 

 stand has already been levelled by a contractor, with a gang of 

 labourers, who has also widened and levelled the upper walk, 

 which when the Conservatory is finished will probably be as much 

 used as the present main walk, and it is our intention to plant 

 on the upper side of this walk a row of Palms of different 

 species, selecting, however, those only which have straight 

 stems, and reach to a good height. I hope to be able to say in 

 my next report that this work has been completed. 



The forcing house which was erected during the year has 

 proved a complete success, and we have been able to rear plants, 

 that without it would have been a failure, such as Theobrona 

 cacao, alluded to in another part of this report, and some 

 others both useful and ormental. 



The " Guide " to the trees and shrubs in the Gardens has 

 been found very useful, and by its aid visitors who take an 

 interest in trees may spend hours in the Gardens with pleasure 

 to themselves, and I venture to hope with some profit also. 

 The copies are sold at Is. each, which is below cost price, 

 having regard to the comparatively limited demand, but a 

 considerable loss was expected when it was decided to publish 

 it, and I think that any loss which may accrue to the Society 

 will be very fully compensated for by the increased pleasure 

 given to intelligent visitors. 



The gate at the entrance to the Gardens has become some- 

 what dilapidated, and it is intended to replace it with one of a 

 more ornamental character, and I hope to see it in its place 

 during the early part of the year. The Corporation have also 

 been requested to improve the road in front of the enti-ance to 

 the Gardens by widening and levelling it, as there has been 

 already several accidents to I'ickshas, and I am in constant fear 

 of a more serious one, especially when two persons in one 

 ricksha are brought down the slope in front of the gate. 



Additions have been made to the head gardener's house at 

 the entrance to the Gardens, as it was not when built, intended 

 for a family, but only for one or two single men ; the additions 

 were made at the close of the year, and were satisfactorily com- 

 pleted by the contractor. The Curator's residence has also 

 received a coat of paint outside, and the inside portion will 

 shortly require attention. It is satisfactory to know that the 

 measures taken to keep out the white ants from the house have 

 been quite successful, and since the first few months they have 

 ceased to give any trouble. 



If the suggestion to indent for Indian labourers is carried 

 into effect it will be necessary to erect new quarters for them, 

 and I would suggest that they should be located in the corner 



