REPORT. * 



Natal Botanic Gardens, 



Durban, January, 1900. 



To the President and Committee, 



Durban Botanic Society. 



Gentlemen, 



1 have much pleasure in presenting this, my Eighteenth 

 Annual Report on the progress of the Botanic Gardens during 

 ^the year which has now ended, and in being able to say that in 

 spite of a somewhat trying season, the losses of trees and plants 

 ihave been but very few. The total rainfall for the year was 

 •only 28*75, as against 48*48 for the last year, showing a short- 

 fall of nearly 20 inches, and being 12*37 inches below the 

 average of the previous twenty-six years. During the whole 

 of these years the rainfall only once fell below that of the last 

 year, viz., in L878, when it was as low as 2824 inches, the 

 heaviest fall during that time being in 1893, when it reached 

 to 71*27 inches. During last year, from May 1st to September 

 14th, only 2*95 inches fell, of which 1*65 was recorded during 

 xMay. 



The locusts visited us several times during the year, and 

 seemed to take a great liking to the young palms in the 

 nursery, but fortunately they were kept off without doing 

 imuch damage. 



The Jubilee Palm House has been a constant source of 

 attraction, and the number of visitors has been greater than in 

 any previous year, partly due to the great influx of visitors in 

 consequence ot* the war, and partly to the Palm House, wdiich 

 is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to sunset, and also on the 

 afternoon of Sundays. 1 am pleased to be able to say that the 

 public apparently appreciate the privilege, as while visitors are 

 very numerous, offences against the Bye-laws are but few, and 

 these not of a serious nature. It is, however, much to be 

 desired that visitors would refrain from handling the plants. 



