12 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
In the triangular piece formed by the entrance from Anderson street, 
a natural system of plants will he commenced at once. With respect to 
the entrances to the Gardens generally it would be a great improvement 
to remove the present unsightly gardeners’ residences scattered through- 
out the grounds, and substitute lodges at the various entrances. 
The Fern Gully in the Botanic Gardens is now one of the great 
attractions in the grounds and it has quite fulfilled the expectations 
I expressed concerning it in my first report. The large ferns have 
flourished, and now spread their cool green fronds over the small species 
growing beneath their shade. The aspect of the place is quite a natural 
one, as it should he; and while the shelter trees transplanted there, 
afford the requisite shade, it has been freely planted with stag-horn 
and elk-horn ferns, which give increased beauty and appropriateness to 
the spot. A number of tall tree ferns from Mount Macedon have been 
planted here, and are growing vigorously. I am indebted to Walter 
Hill, Esq., Director of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and Lewis A. 
Bernays, Esq., F.L.S. of the Brisbane Acclimatisation Society, for some 
valuable ferns which were very scarcely represented in the Melbourne 
Gardens. From these gentlemen I received specimens of the Platy - 
cerums and Birdsnest Asplenium , &c., with which the stems of the tree 
ferns — Alsophilas , Cyatheas and Bicksonias — and many of the shade 
trees, were clothed, forming capitals to the columns of the trunks and 
relieving the dull hue of the stems with their pale green. Scores of 
large trees redundant and useless in other portions of the grounds, were 
transplanted to this Fern Gully (over 200 specimens) for the protection 
of the ferns. Climbers have also been extensively planted — Banksian 
and Cloth of Gold Roses , Loniceras , Ipomceas, Bignonias , Solarium 
Jasminoides , Mandevillea , climbing Pelargonium. , &c., &c. — were placed 
at the stems of trees; and these will ere long, supplemented by the 
umbrageous trees, afford a canopy of shade. Amongst the trees are fine 
specimens of Almus , Grevillea robusta , Bammara robusta , > Robinia , 
Buddleia , Bracliychiton popuhieum, Brachychiton acerifolium, all of 
which are thriving. A tall tree fern 40 feet high and quite a novelty 
has been planted here. It is I believe an undescribed species, but is 
probably a Cyathea . This fine specimen was obtained in the Cape 
Otway forest, a month or two ago, and transported to the Gardens. 
If it lives, it will be a great acquisition to the Fern Gully. The 
bridge which formerly crossed the gully, and which was not only un- 
sightly, but in a state of decay, and dangerous to visitors, has been 
removed. In my last annual report, I mentioned the removal of the 
aviaries from this spot, and the filling up of a waterhole, near them. The 
