BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS. 
9 
House, large though they are, can be removed to other parts of the 
grounds, thus enabling me to make the place upon which they are 
growing a picturesque and valuable Pinetum, sufficiently large indeed to 
admit of grouping in their proper order the extensive collection of 
coniferous plants obtained from Victorian nurserymen during the past 
year. This spot, on account of its height, would be very appropriate 
for the purpose ; it overlooks the greater portion of the Garden. Many 
plants of considerable size were lifted from December, 1874, to March, 
1875, and placed in suitable spots; all are now flourishing. In all, 
832 fine specimens were thus transplanted, and the loss only amounted 
to about one in every 140, thus dealt with. 
The Band Stand still remains on the Palm House Lawn, but I would 
decidedly reiterate my former opinion, that it should be placed upon the 
edge of the Lagoon, or on a promontory jutting from it, where the 
acoustics would be so favorable as to convey the music to all parts of 
the Garden. The Palm House is in a very bad condition, liable to be 
blown down by the first heavy gale. The valuable plants it contains 
afford a reason for remedying this at once. A design (in the preparation 
of which Mr. S. H. Merrett of the Public Works Department took the 
principal share in his spare hours) is in the hands of that department ; 
I consider it about the most suitable one to meet the occasion and if 
carried out would be a source of great attraction to the public as from 
its size and the way in which it has been planned the large collection of 
choice tropical plants would be shown to great advantage. 
An exceedingly large number of plants have been added to the 
Botanic Garden collection during the past year. Many of them have 
been known for years in the nurseries of this city and also in private 
collections. It was of course advisable to add these to our collection. 
Others are quite new and have been purchased from various nurserymen. 
In addition to the plants thus purchased, I have to thank all the Vic- 
torian nurserymen for their extreme kindness in affording me every 
opportunity of selecting plants and seeds gratuitously. A large and 
valuable collection was thus obtained. I am also greatly indebted to 
Mr. A. R. Wallis Secretary for Agriculture for valuable assistance 
rendered me in obtaining plants and seeds from India and America and 
to Professor Wyville Thomson Chief of the Scientific Staff attached to 
H. M. S. Challenger's expedition. To the latter I am also indebted 
for a large and valuable collection of seeds and plants from Kerguelen’s 
Land. Mr. D. Sullivan of Moyston also must be specially mentioned 
for the kindness he has always shown in collecting and sending the 
