18 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
any of the kinds mentioned, would be suitable for the approach. An 
avenue may in some degree be useful in keeping off the sun’s rays, but 
it is sometimes at the sacrifice of beautiful views given by openings 
through which the eye can freely glance over the landscape. A full 
grown hedge of Pittosporum crassifolium has been planted along the 
boundary of the croquet lawn. This will have the effect of secluding 
that part of the grounds, and the lawn being some feet higher than the 
orchard, a pretty view of the new lawn near the Botanic Gardens Palm 
house will be presented. The fountain court has been prepared with 
good soil, thoroughly levelled, and sown with lawn grass seeds. Many 
large trees have been transplanted to the grounds from the Botanic 
Gardens, all of which are doing well. The ferns in the gully are 
vigorously flourishing, and when I am enabled to give the natural 
appearance to the rockery here, the spot will be a very attractive one. 
The specimens of Agonis , &c are also thriving, and fine specimens of 
Grevillea , Bmcliy chiton, Ailantlius , &c. f of large size, have been placed 
here from the Botanic Gardens, as a protection to the ferns. 
I have stated in previous reports that in some places the soil of 
the Government House grounds is exceedingly poor. The effects to be 
gained by properly grouping' such trees as can be selected from the very 
excellent collections of hardy kinds to be found in the Victorian 
nurseries would materially add to the appearance of the grounds in a 
short space of time, but it will be decidedly necessary to prepare the 
spots for their reception with some rich soil which must be carted for 
the purpose. In many parts of the grounds there are a greater number 
of stiff clay patches, than of good soil. The same remark applies to 
the Botanic Gardens ; hence the necessity for increasing the ploughing 
and cartage vote next year. It will be desirable to agriculturally drain 
the Government House grounds ; for though trees may exist, and even 
grow in poor soils, there must be natural or artificial drainage before 
they will thrive properly. I propose to use gutter tiles for the walks in 
the grounds, for surface drainage, similar to those which I have 
employed in the principal new walks in the Botanic Gardens. This 
plan prevents the walks from being cut up by heavy rains. The style of 
French drainage, previously described, I have found by far the best for 
the land, and the general growth of trees, in those parts of the Botanic 
Gardens which I have so treated, and the same principle should be 
applied to these grounds. A copious supply of water through pipes will 
be needed for the groups, and single specimens planted on the grand 
lawn ; and as the situation is an exposed and dry one, the work of 
