DESCEIPTION or THE BOTANIC GARDENS. 
(From Hmjta^'s " year-Booh 1881-2:') 
The following brief description of the Botanic Gartleii, &c., from Huytcr'a Year-Book 
may be fouud interesting in conHection with this catalogue as furnishing 
a general idea of the area, foniiation, objects, and oth<'r particnlars respecting the 
institution : — 
*'Tlie Melbourne Botnnic Garden is situated on tlie south kiiIr of the River Yarra, and at a distance of about 
a mile and a half from the heart of the city. The river forms the nortliorn boundaiy of the garden ; while on 
tlie east it is bounded by Anderson etreet, South Yatra; and on the south and west sides is enclosed by the 
Government House grounds and domain. 
" The Botanic Garden has been in existence for some forty years, the f^ite Iiaving been choson by His 
Excellency Ciovernor La Tiobe. The ar<?a is 83 acres, and to show its relative size, compared with other similar 
inj<titutions, it is as large as the Bfitanic Gardens of Sydney, Afl*'Uii(le, and Brisbane combined; while the total areai 
with the Government House grounds and domain adjoining, is al>out 300 acres. The gai-den was first laid out under 
the direction of Mr, Ginn, Colonial Architect, by Mr. Arthur, Avho, however, died in 1M7. He wn« sncceeded by 
Mr. J. Dallachy, who held the i'K>sition of suijerintendent until about 1856, when the Baron Sir Ferdinand von 
Mueller, Ph.T>., M.U., K.C.M.G., F.K.S. (then Dr. Mueller), was ai>i-»ointed director. The garden, till this time, 
had been under the management of a committee, consisting^ of the f<»ll()wing gentlemen: — His Honor the late Sir 
Redmond Barry, Kt., the late ^^r. W. irull, and Mr. T>. 0. McArtliur ; Mr. Ciinn acting aa seoretai-y. 
*'The Baron von Mueller held office as director until IST^, when, with the viow of enabling him to give 
nndi^dded attention to his alrea/Ay inii>ortant scientific labors as Goverament Botanist, he was relieved of control of 
the garden. Mr. William R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., CM. Koyal Botanic Society, London, was then apjwintcd director, 
and at once began to i-emodel the grounds in accordance with a jtlan designed liy hira on English landdcai>o principles. 
The principal features fif the garden are : — 
'* lat. The extensive green undulating lawns, which are fourin number, and eaoh of which h many acres in 
extent. These are known as the Western lawn, on the western side of the garden ; the Buffalo lawn, 
so called from the common name of the grass (Stenotaphrnm glabnmi) of which it is compose<l ; the 
Central lawn, sloping towards the larger lake; and the Eastern lawn, in the eft^tern jwrtion of the 
grounds. 
"2nd. The arrangement of classified groups oontahiing the natural orders of plants, as well as numerous 
large plantations of ornamental and colored foliage plants, cut out in irregidiu-ly-shaj^ed beds cm tho 
various Iawii8. The nuiuher of botanically classified groups is at present 42, reprcj^enting about 500 
genera and nearly 2,000 species. Appended is a list of the orders, with the names of the lawns cm 
which they are grouped. 
" 3rd. Tlie general and systematic nomenclature of the plants. To each Rpecrmen in the scientific groups so 
called,, as well as before the various jtlants on the lawns, and also in front of those in the numerous 
beds, is placed a label or tablet, on which is written the lx>tanic^d name, authority, common naiue, 
natural order, and the habitat to which the plant belongs. This plan atf*trds the public an opporttmitjp 
of acquiring a fair knowledge of the plant, and is highly appreciated among the numerous visitors. 
During the year 1881 some 9,000 labels, including large tablets, were \\Titten and placed out in 
different parts of the grounds. 
"4th. The fern ground, or giilly, through which a winding pathway — some 900 feet long— has been made>^ 
and which crosses and re-crosses it at short intervals. Hero, along the watercourse, and lining the 
pathway on either side, are some hundreds of our native tree-ferns. In order to provide the necessary 
shelter for this spot, a large number of native and exotic umbrageous trees and shrubs have been placed 
at various parts. Several hundreds of the epiphytal ferns of Queensland, New South Wales, &c., 
including Platyceriums, Polypodiums, Aspleniums, and others, are fixed to the steins of the larger ferns 
and other trees. The whole of these, together with thousands of the smaller native ferns, are growing 
luxuriantly, and form beautiful vistas from almost any i>osition along the pathway. : 
*' 5th. The lake — a beautiful sheet of water, occupying an area of about 8 acres. This, with its surrounding 
rockeries, rustic bridges, and numerous islands dotted about in various parts, is always a pleasing sight. 
The islands have been ornamentally i:t]anted with specimens, of native and other vegetation. Growing 
in one portion of the lake are some large plants of the Kymphtea alba— English water lily— as well also 
a lai^-e number of tlie Cyperus papyrus— the Nile paper rush. Numbers of water fowl, including 
swans, ducks, and other birds, disport themselves on its water. 
6th. The conservatories, with their valuable collections of exotic plants. These houses are four in number. 
The principal conservatory has been built within the last four or five years, and is merely a section 
