BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS. 
11 
I have handed in with this year’s estimates an item of £200 which I 
trust will be granted for the erection of two summer houses in the 
Garden. These are not only required for shelter in case of rain but can 
be made highly ornamental, being constructed of rustic work, with 
thatched roofs. A necessary step is the erection of drinking fountains 
in the grounds. In hot weather it is distressing to visitors to be unable 
to obtain a drink of pure water. In Fitzroy Gardens the Yan Yean is 
laid on, but here it has been cut off for some time ; and the grounds are 
supplied by a six horsepower engine which pumps up from the Yarra, 
water of a decidely inferior quality. I trust that as soon as the new 
Reservoir now approaching completion, is finished the trouble I have 
had in being forced to use water carts will be at an end. 
With respect to labelling the plants it has always been a difficulty 
with Botanical Directors, the wear and tear involving continual trouble 
and expense. Dr. Schomburgk Director of the Adelaide Botanic 
Garden, has had a system in operation since 1871 which his experience 
induces him to pronounce successful, and I contemplate employing it 
here, as it is a well known fact that white labels distributed over 
the ground have an incongruous and unpleasing appearance. The 
label should not be perceptible until the visitor closely approaches the 
plant. To carry out the system effectually, a special vote would be 
necessary $ but ouce accomplished there would be a considerable saving 
in future. 
The new Catalogue is approaching completion, but my incessant occupa- 
tion out of doors prevents me from giving that time to it which I would 
desire, however, as it will be the first of its kind produced here, and as 
I am adding largely to the contents of the Garden (as will be seen by 
the annexed list), and assigning common names to almost all plants, in 
order that non-scientific people may have a plain guide, I wish to make 
it as perfect as possible. With that object I am devoting to it my spare 
time after the day’s labor is over. From the same cause I have b een 
unable to g ive that attention to the rockeries I originally intended; the 
fact being that finding, after repeated trials, the foreman appointed by 
me so utterly incapable as to be unable to realise the effect ultimately to 
be produced, I determi ned — rather than have t he intended design spoilt 
by unskilful hands — pers onally to super i ntend the work, at all events 
until I am enabled to select a man in whom I can place implicit confi- 
dence to faithfully carry out my plans. My late foreman dur ing my 
confinem ent to the house for some days through severe illness, displayed 
a glaring want of taste by erecting a pile of stone far more resembling 
the great wall of China than a natural looking rockery. I was obliged 
