232 



Visitors to Gardens. 



1st April to 31st December, 1898 ... 10,144 



1st January to 31st March, 1899 ... 17,994 



Total ... 28,138 



The elevation of the garden above sea-level is 700 feet. 



The average mean annual temperature is 77.3 F and the average 

 annual rainfall 52.48 inches for eighteen years. The amount of rain 

 that fell during the year was 57.55 inches. 



The wettest months were May, July, August, October; and the 

 driest, April, December, January, February, March. 



The mean temperature for the year was 76.6 F. The Meteorologi- 

 cal tables for the different months are given on page 240. 



Oastleton Garden. 



The following paragraphs are mainly from the Report of Mr. W. 

 J. Thompson, Superintendent : — 



The reduction of the Vote from £400 to £300 has prevented 

 much progress being made. 



A new walk, nine feet wide, has been made from the rose Garden 

 to the Palmetum. About 20 chains of the main walk have been raised 

 several inches, and gravelled. The walk east of the Palmetum has been 

 reformed, widened to 9 feet, and raised several inches. The wooden 

 planks put down 3 years ago to bridge over the gutter running through 

 the garden had become rotton, and were replaced by slabs of concrete. 



The gates have been repainted; two new iron gates have been 

 bought and fixed in place of old wooden gates. The fences have been 

 repaired in places, but they are still in bad condition on each side of 

 the main road. 



A new Garden seat has been made, and the rest repaired. Several 

 Orchid baskets, and numerous labels have been made, and old ones re- 

 paired. 



The lawns, verges and pastures have been kept in fair condition. 

 The beds and borders have been forked several times, but very little 

 manure could be added, as the reduced vote would not allow of expen- 

 diture on cutting grass for stock. 



Trees and shrubs have been pruned. The young plants and new 

 plants put out during the previous year have been looked after carefully, 

 and are making good growth. 



The important work of labelling all the plants in the Garden has 

 been continued. 



The Lily tank has been cleaned out, and new plants of Victoria 

 regia put in. The Nymphaeas, etc., have been repotted. 



The Para Rubber tree (Hevea sp) planted about 14 years ago, 

 fruited for the first time this year, and plants have been raised from 

 the seed. Number of plants have also been raised from the seed of the 



Besides 4,196 from Castleton. 



