4 
Many plants previously kept in the greenhouses I considered of sufficiently robust habit for 
outdoor culture ; I therefore directed their removal to the grounds, where they are thriving remarkably 
well. A number of these were in the palm-house on the hill. A specimen of the caryota urens, and also 
an aralea (the former fully 20 feet in height), had forced their heads through the glass roof of the house, 
These plants, with others, w T ere removed to the grounds, where they are progressing satisfactorily. 
Ficus indica (the great banyan tree) is also growing much better in the open air than it did in the 
house. Hibiscus sinensis (a shrub from China), between 9 and 10 feet in height, from having been 
coddled under glass, had Income somewhat more tender than it would otherwise have been ; it is now 
thriving in the open air, and flowered freely during the past month. I could enumerate many other 
equally beautiful but still more tender plants which are now also doing well out of doors. In the 
palm-house the place of the tall palms, &c., thus removed from the centre, w T as filled by a spacious 
circular stage, which has afforded an opportunity for the continuous display of a profusion of delicate 
plants in full bloom, adding greatly to the elegant internal appearance of the house, which was repaired 
and thoroughly re-arranged during the past season. The smaller iron conservatory was renovated, 
painted, the roof covered with canvas, and other improvements made, after which upwards of 250 
species of ferns were collected and placed in it, forming a fernery, the effect of which is imposing, while 
the individual growth has been most rapid and satisfactory. One of the gardeners, Mr. French, was 
transferred from the Domain and placed in charge of this fernery and the propagating department ; 
and I have to speak in the highest terms of his assiduity and capability. He has successfully struck 
some hundreds of choice flowering shrubs and plants for the general decoration of the Botanical and 
Domain Gardens, and has shown an aptitude and attention which it is very gratifying to me to mention. 
Towards the end of last year a piece of ground in the Botanical Garden was prepared, and some 
thousands of young palms, dracaenas, cycads, &c., were raised from seeds for future planting out in the 
grounds. Although, owing to the reprehensible neglect of a gardener (who has since been removed) a 
number of these tender seedlings, as well as many choice specimens in the Garden, were allowed to 
perish during my severe illness, the remainder have thriven remarkably well since due attention has 
been paid to them, and will be of material assistance in furnishing the grounds. Seeds of all kinds have 
throughout been collected when ripe, and used both for local planting and exchange purposes. In the 
month of November the Victoria Regia ihrwered, and I had then occasion to point out the necessity for 
providing a larger tank and house for the accommodation of this plant. I selected a site for the future 
Victoria house on the hill near the large conservatory ; but up to the present date the plant remains in 
its old quarters, though it would be very advisable to remove it as soon as possible, as the tank now 
holding it does not admit of more than two leaves attaining their full proportions. 
In September, 249 camellias — fine, hardy plants, of the choicest selected varieties — were intro- 
duced from Sydney, there having previously been only one or two isolated and inferior specimens of 
this beautiful plant in the garden. These camellias will be planted in positions where they will be 
subjected to the watchfulness of the Botanical Garden employes. During the summer I have had 
continual occasion to complain of the wholesale flower-stealing carried on by visitors to the Garden ; and 
I regret to say that in many instances the pilferers were well-dressed people, whose social position should 
have made them superior to such acts. Through the whole season favorable to the floral display which 
I endeavored to create in the Garden, my intended effects were frequently spoiled by these flower 
thieves, who, in addition to purloining the flowers, frequently inflicted considerable damage on the 
shrubs from whence the blooms were thus violently torn. Indeed, in some instances, whole plants were 
taken away bodily, not only from the open grounds of the Garden, but also from the houses. A vigorous 
watch (so far as lies within my power with the limited means at command) will in future be kept for 
these dishonest persons, and prosecution in each proved instance of theft strictly enforced. 
In October, 4,417 plants were transmitted to the State Nursery at Mount Macedon. 
Finding that the Garden was devoid of some hundreds of choice and valuable plants, such as 
ornamental and flowering shrubs, &c., suitable both for indoor and outdoor culture, I at once commenced 
introducing such plants. I have to acknowledge the kindness of many well-known Victorian nursery- 
men — Messrs. T. Lang and Co., Geo. Smith, Taylor and Sangster, J. Harris, W. Herbert, J. Scott, 
J. C. Cole, B. and S. Johnson, D. Watt, G. Brunning, and C. F. Cresswell — from whose extensive stocks 
I was not only able to purchase many valuable plants, but who generously gave many donations of choice 
shrubs, &c., for the ornamentation of the Garden. I was thus enabled to keep up in the flower beds, 
which were previously quite bare, a good succession of bloom. In the Appendix to this Report will be 
found a list of donations, with names of the donors. 
The propagating department is in a very flourishing condition. Hundreds of useful trees and 
shrubs have been propagated for the general decoration of the grounds. Many useful and rare plants 
have been introduced from abroad, including a choice yellow nymphia, furnished by Mr. Abbott, Curator 
of the Hobart Town Botanical Garden. From Dr. Schomburgk, Curator of the Adelaide Botanical 
