6 
mentioned success in moving very much larger trees, there is not one in the present system ground that 
cannot with care be safely transplanted. 
Next to the new system garden should come a collection of plants of economic value ; and there 
is sufficient space in the portion of the grounds which I have chosen for the purpose to admit of this 
being carried out. I would suggest the abolition of the unsightly houses, small conservatories, tool- 
sheds, &c., scattered through the ground, and the concentration of the buildings really required in the 
manner proposed in my previous Report. Placing a good lodge at each entrance-gate, and building the 
conservatories together on the hill where the palm-house stands, would be the best plan of procedure. 
Many walks, crossing each other in a very awkward manner, also require obliteration ; but these 
matters will involve considerable expense, and will have to be dealt with by degrees. 
I propose to place the most valuable camellias, roses, &c., near the Curator’s house, where they 
can be watched, and at the same time be accessible to the public. This is absolutely necessary to 
prevent their wholesale theft or destruction. From the same cause I am compelled, when the caretaker 
is engaged elsewhere, to keep the doors of the fernery locked, but the key is always to be obtained on 
application by visitors, a notice being posted on the door to that effect. It is not pleasant to be com- 
pelled to enforce such arbitrary rules ; but experience has shown that, unless such a course is pursued, 
the gardens and houses will be stripped by unprincipled persons. 
From that portion of the Garden where I have commenced remodelling the grounds, I removed a 
number of diseased deciduous fruit and other trees, which were a great blot on the landscape. I also 
have in view the opening up of diversified scenery by the formation of picturesque groups and clumps of 
trees on the lawns, the glimpses through which will altogether change the appearance of the Garden. 
A broad w r alk, eighteen feet wide, will encircle the nev T lawn running down to the lagoon ; and being 
carried with a bold curve to the eastern entrance, will dispense with a number of narrow walks, of mean 
appearance, which are badly formed, wrongly curved, and have an incongruous aspect. The plantation 
of groups and single specimens along this new walk will produce a great effect in opening up the scenery 
of the lake. 
Both in the Domain and Botanical Gardens the inadequate supply of water for the plants was 
severely felt during the past summer. Some permanent source of supply for both places should be 
speedily arranged. During the drought last summer, there being no Yan Yean supply to the 
Botanical Garden, the men were almost exclusively occupied in keeping the plants alive, not having time 
to attend to keeping the grounds in order, or perform other necessary works. 
It would greatly improve the appearance of this Garden to build an improved and more spacious 
orchestra, for band performances, on a lawn near the lagoon, where the acoustic facilities are very favor- 
able. I propose to plant in this spot suitable umbrageous trees, beneath which seats will be placed for 
the accommodation of the large number of visitors who on such occasions would throng to this lawn. 
As the attraction of the music leads people to linger in such places, this spot is one specially to be 
rendered beautiful ; it will therefore receive my particular attention when remodelling the grounds. 
In view of the extensive alterations necessary in the Garden, I may point out that the present 
available labor is insufficient for the purpose. If I could obtain, say for twelve months, the services of 
twelve additional laborers, to form walks, transplant trees, do the rough part of forming and making 
lawns, ornamenting the lagoon, and similar work, I could make very great progress, during the period 
mentioned, in remodelling the Garden. 
In my previous Report I mentioned the inconvenience and loss of time to which I w T as subjected 
on taking office by the absence of any catalogue of the Garden’s contents. I have since devoted con- 
siderable time and attention to the preparation of such a work, which will be ready in about a month’s 
time. It will contain a list of all the trees, plants, &c., in the Garden ; the orders to which they belong, 
their native countries, botanical and common names, heights, habits, and times of blooming, properties 
(if any), and other useful information. It will be profusely illustrated with nature-printed pictures of 
ferns and other interesting plants, and is specially prepared as a compendious and exhaustive guide to 
the contents of the Botanical Garden. I trust that this work, by affording such facilities, will be 
instrumental in some degree in promoting a taste for botanical study generally, and eventually lead to 
a vast improvement in many of the gardens of our private citizens. 
Appended is an estimate of the amounts required for the Gardens under my charge for the ensuing 
financial year. 
