( 4 ) 
Although the rose plants flowered very well, especially in June, they made but little growth, and at 
the close of the year, after the rains, they do not look at all flourishing. However, I trust that when the 
fine weather comes they will feel the benefit of the treatment given them in November, and make better growth the 
next season. 
Herbaceous Garden. — This garden has been thoroughly set in order, the paths have all been metalled and 
gravelled, and the turfing of the banks and verges completed. An additional bed for Liliaceous plants has been made. 
At various times during the year some 560 plants of different sorts were set out in their places in the Orders to 
which they belong. 
A quantity of large labels, 18 in. long, 2\ in. broad, and £ in. thick, made of seasoned Eucalyptus globulus 
wood, were prepared for naming the Natural Orders. The upper 9 in. of the label received three coats of white 
paint, and the remaining part was twice dipped in a mixture of boiling linseed oil and powdered coal. We prepared 
labels in this way three years ago for the rose garden, and up to the present time there is no sign of decay. The 
names are painted black on the white ground, and are easily read from any of the paths. Seventy-six of these were 
painted and set out to mark the natural orders represented ; 625 of a smaller size were painted and set out to mark 
the names of the species and varieties. 
Bats and Porcupines. — A perfect swarm of rats visited the garden at the beginning of the year. They did 
considerable damage to seeds and young seedlings. We destroyed large numbers by poison, and by catching them 
in traps. I caught in one particular spot no less than 55, 30 of these in one month. 
The porcupines destroyed nearly the whole of the Dahlia bulbs planted out in the shrubbery, and also a large 
number of other plants with tuberous roots. None were caught, and they only remained about the garden for a 
short time. 
Visitors. — The number of visitors during the year was 1,170, showing an increase of 159 over that of last 
year. April again showed the largest number, 215, and June the smallest, 32. 
The total rainfall for the year was 101-91 inches, which fell on 224 days, as shown in the following table : — 
1887. 
January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
Weather. — The greatest fall in any twenty-four hours was 3 - 90, from December 17 to 18, against 3-92 from 
August 7 to 8 last year. 
The average rainfall for the four years 1884-87 is 86-68 : the average number of days on which rain fell 
during the last six years is 217*8 ; and the average monthly rainfall for four and half years a fraction over 7*29 
inches. 
The wind was pretty steady from the S.E. until April 25, and was light or moderate in force. It then 
went round to the N.W. and continued, with few exceptions, in that quarter until September 21. From then till 
October 5 it blew from S.E. It then blew for nine days from the N.W., and back again to the S.E. until the 28th. 
From then till the 5th of next month the direction was from N.W., when it settled down to S.E., and continued to 
blow from that quarter till the end of the year. 
It commenced to blow strong on April 28, and was moderate or strong until May 21, when it became very 
strong until the 26th, and only moderate for the last few days of that month. All through June and July the force 
was very strong. From then until September 9 it was variable, when it became very strong again for a few days, 
and then light or moderate till the beginning of November, when it settled down to light, and, with few exceptions, 
continued to blow lightly until the end of the year. 
The greatest pressure per square foot during any twenty-four hours was 5,248 lb., equal to 32-40 miles an 
hour, on July 4, against 8,333 lb., equal to 40-80 miles an hour, on June 16 last year. 
The mean daily horizontal movement of the air for the year was 206 - 95 miles. 
The windiest month was July, with a mean daily horizontal movement of 404 - 40 miles. 
The calmest month was February, with a mean of 106-57 miles. 
The barometic pressure and temperature of the air for the year was as follows : — 
Rainfall. 
No. of Days. 
1887. 
Rainfall. 
No. of Day 
4-89 
16 
August 
3-32 
15 
3-67 
11 
September 
6-43 
20 
1-21 
7 
October 
10-04 
24 
7-48 
19 
November 
13-40 
23 
8-20 
17 
December 
33-77 
29 
4-45 
27 
5-05 
16 
Total ... 
101-91 
224 
Barometic Pressure. (5,581 ft. elevation.) 
Temperature of the Air. 
1887. 
Mean. 
Range. 
1887. 
Mean. 
Range. 
January 
24-509 
•177 
J anuary 
60-9 
25-0 
February 
24-554 
•274 
February 
62-5 
27-0 
March 
24-527 
•213 
March 
66-2 
31-5 
April 
24-508 
•201 
April 
65-3 
27-0 
May 
24-499 
•179 
May 
65-0 
24-0 
June 
24-467 
•185 
June 
61-4 
15-0 
July 
24-479 
•214 
July 
61-9 
18-5 
August 
24-475 
•166 
August 
63-2 
21-0 
September 
24-494 
•253 
September 
63-1 
25-5 
October 
24-512 
•230 
October 
62-3 
250 
November 
24-533 
•206 
November 
61-3 
22-0 
December 
24-514 
•248 
December 
59-3 
14-0 
The 12 months 
24-506 
•340 
The 12 months ... 
62-7 
32-5 
Highest reading 
24-696 on 
February 15. 
Maximum temperature of aii 
, 77-5, on March 29. 
Lowest reading 
24-356 on 
July 1. 
Minimum temperature of air, 
45-0, on Jan. 11 and 25 
and February 6. 
'I'll': highest temperature in the sun's rays during the year was 145 - 0, on March 22, and the lowest on grass 
was 37-0 on January 11, and March 13. 
The mean amount of cloud for the year was 6 - 4. The cloudiest month was December, with a mean of 
0-3, and the brightest was March, with a moan of 3-0. 
