September i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
185 
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF 
THE ADELAIDE BOTANIC GARDEN. 
Botanic Garden, May. 1888. 
Gentlenion, — I have to submit for your information 
my Report upon the Botanic Garden and Park, and the 
Museum of Kerinoinie Jlotany, for the year 1887. 
Since the year 1884 I have not prepared any Report 
with as orach satisfaction as that which I now lay be- 
fore you. II is seldom that South Australia has been 
visited with such frequent, abundant, and widely dis- 
tributed rains as those with which this colony was bit sued 
during the past year. The rainfall registered in 
Adelaide amounted to 25-701 inches. As may be seen 
in the following table, the heaviest downpour occurred 
in the months of May and Juno. Mr. Charles Todd, 
O.MiG., the Postmaster-General, has been good enough 
to supply me with the following figures : — 
The rainfall recorded was in 
January 
February ... ... ... 
0 693 inches 
0-504 
>» 
March 
0-317 
)! 
April 
2-082 
»> 
May 
4-086 
June 
6021 
» 
July 
2-571 
August 
1-372 
99 
September ... ... 
2-517 
h 
October ... ... 
2-733 
>» 
November 
0-042 
99 
December ... 
1-863 
If 
Total 
25 701 
Jl 
10 rainfall of the previous year, 
1886, was 
only 
14-420 iuches, A moderate temperature prevailed all 
through the spring, and during portion of the summer. 
Indeed hot days were rare, and such hot winds as were 
experii need were not very severe, and of short duration 
only. The highest temperature in the shade was 111-2°, 
Bind in the sun 164"- Febuary, March, and April were 
rather dry and warm, especially the latter, the ther- 
mometer often reaching as high as 91° iu the shade. 
The beneficial influence of ibis genial season has been 
fi lt over the whole colony, and the progress of Agri- 
cultural and pastoral undertakings has enjoyed a 
stimulus which had been wanting during several 
previous years. The wheat crops, with few exceptions, 
have turned out well, and the average yield througout 
the colony Iris been computed at eight bushels per acre, 
which is considered trt be a fair result iu South 
Australia. There has also been a fair average crop of 
fruit, which has been of excellent quality, size, and 
flavor. 
In tho Botanic Garden the flower parterros, borders, 
and carpet bids presented a beautiful display of various 
descriptions of ilowers. The summer llowers, such as 
Zinnias. Tagetes, I'ortulacas, Verbenas, Amaranths, 
and, indeed, all the annuals, in the great variety of 
their forms and colors, surpassed anything tint had 
previously bete seen in the garden, and excited the 
warmest admiration of the numerous visitors who 
came to the garden. 
The roses have seldom been seen to such advantage, 
and have rarely produced such large and perfect llowers 
as they did last ye n-. The mild aiel genial temperature 
which prevailed in September and October prolonged 
the flowering considerably beyond the usual time. 
Tho growth of the shrubs and trees of all kinds iu 
the garden and in the park exhibited a rich luxuriauco 
not often witnessed bofore. The lawns presented a 
most healthy nnd verduut appearance. This was 
brou ht about, in somo muisure, by nianuriug them 
with ulpliate of ammonia, one of the most powerful 
ami eneticial of fertilizers which can be used for lawns, 
and which I cannot too strongly recommend. 
The Juhileo Kxhihition attracted, as wis oxpeotcd, 
n large number of visit us from the adjoining colonies, 
an I they appeared to bo much struck by what they saw, 
ninl were Ion I in their pr.iises ot the garden. The 
Museum of Koonomic Botany ruceivuda large share of 
atleutio i on account of geiier*l utility and instructive 
licsi. Its value iu these respects was very generally 
recognised and acknowledged. It is found that the 
21 
garden is not resorted to alone for the amusement it 
affords, but for the knowledge obtainable from it by 
those who have a taste for and who practice floriculture 
in this colony. The number of persons who frequent 
the garden for instruction is always increasing, and 
the numerous applications that I receive from visitors 
for information on floricultural subjects convince me 
of the great public advantage which this State 
Horticultural Institution offers in promoting a taste for 
flower culture. The number of amateur florists, I am 
glad to say, is extending steadily. This may be seen 
in the numerous tasteful cottage gardens which are 
laid out in many parts of the city, and all directions 
in the suburbs and the general environment of Adelaide. 
Another proof may be seen in the flower shows which are 
held from time to time, and in the great improvement 
which is visible in the cultivation of the plants which 
are exhibited on those occasions. It is still more grati- 
fying to note the tasto for floriculture which prevails 
to a large extent amongst the working classes. At our 
shows, under the class of "Cottagers," specimen plants 
aro shown which evidence considerable care, patience, 
and judgment in the way tho plants are selected and 
cared for. 
There are difficulties in the way of my promoting 
the taste that manifests itself in the ways I have 
mentioned, and my efforts have not been entirely suc- 
cessful. Somo of the colonial nursorymen complain 
that the public are supplied too freely with plants, 
seed, and cuttings from the garden, and that in con- 
sequence their trade is injured. I do not think that 
such complaints are well founded. The regulations un- 
der which plants, kc, can be spared are offered in 
exchange for others not in the garden, and which re- 
quire that no ornamental plants shall be distributed 
until two years after their introduction, appears to me 
to afford sufficient protection to the nurserymen. 
This restriction, however, does not apply to newly in- 
troduced plants which have a distinct commercial im- 
portance au^l value, or to medicinal plants which are 
multiplied and distributed without deiay, and to the 
fullest possible extent. Enthusiastic amateur florists, 
when they see new flowers in the garden, are not 
content to wait for two years on the chance of being 
able to obtain cuttings or seeds from mo, but give 
their orders to nurserymen or seedsmen to procure them 
from the neighbouring colonics, if obtainable 
there. 
I consider it advisable to give my experiences of 
some of the plants which were introduced into the 
gardens iu 1885-6 and 1887, viz., the Insect powder 
plant, the Cheesemaker, Eland's Booutgcs, and the 
Kumara. 
There is no doubt that the " Insect powder plant " 
(Pi/rethriim ciiicrariiefulium (Trevir), Dostum and 
a van ( Bibrst.), have found a congenial climate iu 
.smith Australia, and, without having the slightest care 
bestowed upon them, have done uncommonly well in 
all the different situations and soils in which they 
have been planted. They also figure well as ornamen- 
tal plants during their flowering period. Tho same 
may be said of the Cheesemaker {Withanid coagulans, 
Dun), which continues to thrive well. 
Although the growth of the B and's Boontges (EU- 
/iliuntiii i-hr.ii Hurchellii, Beuth.) is not so vigorous as that 
of the two former plant*, it seems to thrive in the colo- 
uy. As mentioned on a former occasion, the pluut 
dies down in tho winter season, but the fleshy rooti, 
which contain the tannic acid, iucrease materially in 
size. The plant itself is decidedly ornamental; its 
graceful pinnated leaves show it to he au addition to 
our ordinary flower borders. 1 have beeu informed 
that a box of the roots has been tent to England from 
the Botanic Garden, Xatal, for the purpose of aualyiis. 
Tho report upon the roots is not very favorable ; the 
amount of tannic acid they coutaiurd being less tbau 
was expected. The roots also toutained a coloring 
matter that is considered to be objectionable. I agree 
with Mr. Wood, thu director of the Botanic Garden. 
Natal, in the suggestion that the roots should be tested 
at diiler.-ut seasons of tho year, because it is very prob- 
able that the amount of Inn Din may vary ooiioidcrabl y 
at ditlercnt periods, as it is known to do in wattle baik. 
