ANNUAL REPORT 
OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS, MELBOURNE. 
TO THE HONORABLE JAMES JOSEPH CASEY, M.P., MINISTER OF 
LANDS AND AGRICULTURE, ETC., ETC. 
Sir, 
In the Botanic Gardens during the year some important steps were 
taken in advancing my plan for the general laying out of the grounds ; 
and the production of landscape effect; such as the effacing of narrow 
and useless walks, the substitution of broad sweeping ones in their stead, 
formation of lawns, transplanting of trees, clearing the Lagoon, and other 
necessary works. 
During the year there were introduced into the Botanic Garden 1,122 
new species and 1,272 new varieties of plants. 
The islands in the Lagoon near Princes Bridge were planted with 
trees and sown with grass seed early in the year. 
These islands have not been formed after the style which I think 
objects of the kind should have in such a sheet of water — they are too 
flat, and far too numerous. However I did the best I could with them 
so far as planting was concerned. They were attended to periodically 
throughout the year. I have again to acknowledge the courtesy of the 
Colonel Commandant in giving me the use of the pontoon raft to convey 
very large trees to the islands. Ceanothus, Pittosporum, Buddleya, 
Laurustinus, Cupressus, Dracaena, Arundo donax, Gynerium, Pinus, 
Poplars, Agave, Araucaria, &c., &c., were also suitably planted on them. 
The Fern Gully in the Botanic Garden made great progress during the 
year. On one of the Lake islands a number of redundant cypresses, 
which marred the view, were removed, Dracaenas, Gynerium, &c., being 
substituted. Aralia papyrifera, Aloe arborescens, Dracaena, &c., were 
removed from other portions of the Garden, and placed in groups in 
various parts of the ground. A number of choice ferns from New 
Zealand and the State Nursery at Mount Macedon were also planted. 
A new walk branching towards the Fern Gully, was laid out, the 
lawns round the Director’s house completed and planted with Azaleas, 
A 2 
