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King's House Gardens and Grounds. 



The following Report is by the Superintendent, Mr. E. Campell : — 



Notwithstanding the unusual drought which prevailed for several 

 months of the year the Garden, is in its usual good form. 



Incessant watering was necessary, and I am able to state that none of 

 the plants under cultivation have died. 



The avenue borders, having become too crowded with Aralias, it has 

 been thinned throughout. A length of four chains long was also dug 

 up, made to a level with the road, trenched two to three feet deep, well 

 manured, and replanted. 



All the Aralia edging around borders and rose beds towards the 

 west entrance gate have been removed. 



A heavy mulching of stable manure was put on the whole of the 

 borders, and they had a deep forking, frequent weedings, and the 

 necessary pruning. 



In the Rose Gardens all the inferior roses have been dug out, and 

 better varieties, obtained from Hope, supplied in their places. The 

 several beds were also well manured, forked and weeded regularly. 



A number of small beds have been made near the top Rose Garden 

 and about the lawn, and were planted with Zinnias, Balsams, Lilies, 

 Amaryllis carinata, &c. 



The lawns had the necessary frequent mowing, rolling and weeding ; 

 the verges were cut, &c. 



Twenty-four square chains, or nearly two and a half acres, have been 

 planted with Bahama Grass : of this, seventeen chains of the ground 

 was prepared during the present year. The grass has grown well and 

 there will soon be an established lawn. 



Two new Lawn Mowers have been bought ; one of these machines is 

 of the better class, it was imported from Messrs. Ransomes, Sims and 

 Jefferies, England. 



Several of the commoner trees about the Garden, have been cut out. 



Several tree-roots, causing unevenness on the walks, have been dug 

 out, the hollow places filled up and gravel put on. 



All the plants in pots, grown for house decoration, have been 

 repotted, including the ferris. 



The orchids were also remounted in new baskets, blocks, pots, &c. 

 A good many of these flowered. 



The pastures have been cleaned twice, the weeds were hoed up and 

 not billed as formerly. 



Ten acres of the high bush, north-east, and adjoining No. 2 pasture 

 was also cleared for a new pasture. 



The pines were taken up, as they had become overgrown, the land 

 well ploughed, and replanted. 



200 feet of piping was laid down to carry water along the long outer 

 walk. This part of the Garden is not yet supplied with water, and it 

 is very much required. To complete the service several hundred feet 

 more of pipes are wanted. 



Six new garden scats have been put in the Garden by Public Works 

 Department. 



Twelve chains of new wire fencing have been fixed, enclosing the 

 new pasture ; and a good portion of the older fences around the grass 

 pieces, common pastures, &c, repaired. 



