ANNUAL REPORT 
OF THE CURATOR OF THE 
BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS, MELBOURNE. 
TO TIIE HONORABLE FRANCIS LONGMORE, M.P., MINISTER FOR 
LANDS AND AGRICULTURE, ETC., ETC. 
Botanic Gardens, 
Sir, Melbourne, 25th June, 1877. 
I have the honor to submit herewith my Fourth Annual Progress 
Report on the Botanical and Domain Gardens, dating from July 1876. 
The general work accomplished in the Botanic Gardens during the 
financial year has been considerable. Though the weather at times 
proved very adverse — one flood in particular doing much damage — 
operations steadily continued. The extra laborers allowed last year 
(12 in number) enabled me to make great advances in my general 
design for remodelling these grounds. It is to this temporary and 
extraneous source of labor that I have in a great measure to look for 
accomplishing the work of renovation ; the regular staff being mainly 
employed in keeping the Gardens in order. Should the same amount 
of assistance be granted in the future, the completion of the Botanic 
Gardens will be most materially forwarded. 
Ilie whole of the men employed in the Gardens now work on a 
departmental system, which has taken some time and experience to 
perfect. It is most, satisfactory in its results. By this means an 
increased sense of responsibility is created, and a healthy spirit of 
emulation excited. Speaking collectively, the staff deserve commenda- 
tion for the manner in which their duties were performed during the 
year. 
In the draft estimates forwarded by me for the ensuing financial year 
there is a total decrease of £620, as compared with last year, on the 
amount for the Garden and Domain. 
It is highly desirable that on entering a Botanic Garden visitors 
should at once recognise the purpose to which the grounds are de- 
voted, by seeing groups arranged according to their botanical order. 
