8 
removed, but there still remains a depth of six feet to be taken from its crest, which will involve 
considerable expense, but is necessary for the proper completion of the lawn, as the base of the building 
is at present hidden from the city. I believe this hill to be a mass of gravel, and am of opinion that, 
when the projected cutting is made, sufficient material can be obtained from it to serve for the 'whole of 
the Domain walks and drives. The gravel already removed from this spot is being used in making the 
•South Yarra drive. A number of elms were transplanted from the old metalled drive, and arranged in 
groups on the lawn, leaving several of the principal specimens of eucalyptus globulus in their 
original positions. The drive round the lawn has been partially formed and gravelled ; but, instead of 
adhering to the original plan of making this drive ten feet wide, I caused it to be widened to eighteen 
feet, thus avoiding the mean appearance which a narrow drive must inevitably have presented when 
encircling such an extended space. 
One of my first acts was to clear out an old quarry, which had been made the receptacle of all 
sorts of rubbish. After proper preparation, large tree and other ferns were planted here ; the steep 
banks overhanging the gully were also planted with trees, principally of a pendulous habit — agonis, 
ulmus, &c. — selected with the object of giving the best natural shade to the ferns during the summer 
time, and thus affording the protection necessary to enable them to grow and flourish properly. 
A number of large specimens of umbrageous and ornamental plants, such as aralea, grevillea, Chinese 
ash, and dracaena, were, during the past favorable season, planted in the midst of the ferns ; and these, 
with the aid of the pendulous trees mentioned, will in a short space of time form a canopy of foliage 
overhead, and thus protect the ferns from the scorching rays of the summer sun. Pending the 
development of these shading trees, a number of stout wires were stretched across the gully, and a thatch 
of melaleuca leaves placed on them, giving temporary protection from the sun. At the present time 
the ferns are in a most satisfactory condition. Along the steep banks of this gully a rockery was 
commenced, a very large number of stones, limbs and roots of trees, &c., carted, good soil distributed, 
and the rough work of formation accomplished, rock plants put in, which are now flourishing. There is, 
however, much still to be done before this rockery can be considered completed. The aspect of a 
properly formed rockery should be one of natural wildness, and for this purpose rough fantastic-shaped 
masses of stone are requisite. These are not procurable here in any quantity ; and to produce the 
necessary effect it will be essential to use cement freely in fastening irregular pieces of rock together, to 
introduce gnarled stumps and limbs of trees, and otherwise to give, in the completing touches, that 
natural air of picturesque confusion and irregular bold vegetation which form the attraction of a success- 
fully designed rockery. On this principle I purpose also constructing the rockeries in the Botanical 
Garden, including one at either end of the intended rustic bridge across the lagoon. The rockeries in 
these Gardens will show how very favorable the mild climate of Victoria is for the growth of different 
varieties of rock plants — aloes, cacti, agave, mesembrianthemum, crassula, yucca, euphorbea, &c. — 
which appear to the greatest advantage when growing in such positions. When the finishing touches 
to which I have alluded are given, and the rockery, with its nests of varied vegetation, surrounds the 
cool green fronds of the ferns in the hollow 7 , the spot will be very picturesque and attractive. 
During last September, 2,500 trees, shrubs, and palms were planted out in the Government House 
grounds. In January a great deal of new 7 ground was carefully ploughed along the margin of the South 
Yarra drive ready for planting, the intention being to put in large plants from other portions of the 
Domain where they were crowded together, and in some instances this has already been done. Finding 
that the private drive to Government House was wrongly curved near its head, thus permitting an 
uninterrupted view from the house almost along its entire length, I curved it between 25 and 30 feet 
more towards the Observatory, thus allowing the head of the drive to enter with a bold sweep the 
expanse of gravel which, in my opinion, should be created in front of Government House. This 
alteration gives greater depth for creating a mass of foliage near the walk which encircles the lawn. 
In my Report dated August last I drew' attention to a monotonous avenue of araucaria imbricata, 
Wellingtonia gigantea, and cedrus deodara, planted in three formal rows along the private drive. I then 
expressed an opinion that, from the fact of these trees being planted on mounds, they would be in great 
danger during the approaching summer ; and I regret to say that my anticipations proved correct, for, in 
spite of the trees being carefully watered during the continuance of the hot weather, the mounds on 
which they were planted became baked by the scorching sun, and several of the trees perished. I may 
here point out that these trees — and especially the araucaria imbricata and Wellingtonia gigantea — are 
of a slow habit of growth, and, judging from specimens of these grown elsewhere, it will take at least 
twenty years, even in a favorable position, before they attain an altitude sufficient to form a good avenue. 
My idea would be to disperse them in a natural manner, grouped with some of the already well-grown 
trees, such as cypress, pine, cedrus, araucaria, taxodium, and others, which are too thickly planted upon 
the slope stretching towards the Yarra ; and thus the avenue would be formed at once , giving an 
