PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 49 



VI. Functions of a Botanic Garden and some local ideals 

 and suggestions. 



1. Centenary of the Sydney Botanic Gardens in June 

 1916, — Our Botanic Garden "growed " like Topsy, follow- 

 ing at first the economic requirements of a colony formed 

 under peculiar circumstances, and as regards the garden, 

 we became scientific in spite of ourselves. The history of 

 the garden is briefly as follows : — 



The colony was founded on January 26th, 1788. The 

 First Fleet came via Rio de Janeiro, where a number of 

 economic plants were put aboard, while an extensive col- 

 lection of seeds of vegetables and other plants had been 

 brought from England. A little latter, plants and seeds 

 were brought from India and the Cape. 



There being a little alluvial land along the banks of the 

 creek just w T est of Sydney Cove, a farm was at once 

 established there, and the name Farm Cove commemorates 

 this to this day. 



What is the proper date of the foundation of the Garden? 

 There is reason for fixing it at the foundation of the Colony, 

 for the Rio plants and the seeds would have been planted 

 as soon as the primaeval forest could be felled, and the 

 ground prepared. The ground has been continuously 

 cultivated ever since, i.e., for 124 years. The welfare of 

 these plants w r as one of Governor Phillip's earliest anxieties, 

 and I have not the slightest doubt they found themselves 

 in the ground, and watered from the creek, not later than 

 the first week of February 1788. 



The best land, close to the creek, would be dealt with 

 first, and later on the land further from the creek would be 

 worked by hoe and spade, for the stumps of the trees would 

 preclude the use of the English ploughs. In this way the 

 land for the cereals would be prepared, and the farm 



D— May 1,1912 



