5 
Government IIo%&e Grounds and Domain, /or 1881 . 
Hyacinths, and Petunias, a fair show of these gorgeous and attractive flowers has been 
maintained, and when in bloom has added considerably to the attractiveness of this portion of 
the grounds. The flowerbeds above the band-house have been regularly manured, dug over, 
and the plants re-arranged. A plantation, consisting of large trees and shrubs of the genera 
Pinus, Araucaria, Acacia, Oordyline, Wigandia, &c., has been formed on the south-east extremity 
of this lawn, for the purpose of shutting out the view of the gravel pit, which presented an 
unsightly appearance when viewed from the western portion of the Gardens. Numbers of 
Cryptomeria elegans, which is much admired for its feathery purple-tinted foliage, anifl 
Eucalyptus ficifolia (the scarlet-flowering Gum from Broke’s Inlet, Western Australia), have 
been planted in conspicuous places. 
Buffalo Grass Lawn. 
The Buffalo Grass or Tropical Lawn has been greatly benefited by the top-dressings which 
have been applied from time to time. The shrubberies disposed over its surface are thriving, 
and some idea can now be gathered of the effects which will be produced in the course of a few 
years, by the grouping of Palms, Cycads, Cordylines, Aralias, and plants of a kindred nature, 
all of which were planted with the idea of creating tropical or sub-tropical scenery. Clumps 
of Iresine (blood-leaf), and other lively colored foliage plants, have been placed in such suitable 
positions as to impart a coloring to the landscape. Several of the beds have been enlarged, 
and many of the shrubs transplanted. This was found necessary on account of the 
vigorous growth of the plants, causing them to begin to overcrowd each other. Advantage 
was taken of the lake being dry, to have a quantity of swamp mould wheeled on. to the lower 
portion of this lawn, and to thereby make the curves of the bank more picturesque. An 
improvement has also been effected by turfing with Buffalo grass the opposite margin from the 
rockery to the rustic bridge, which prevents the banks from wearing away by the action of 
storm water. 
Western Lawn. 
This sward is now quite equal to the Buffalo and Palm House Lawns, although much 
difficulty was at first experienced in getting the grass to grow satisfactorily, on account of the 
poor character of the soil, which in some places is nothing but pure sand. So deep is this 
sand-drift, that in some places it was found necessary to forih an artificial bottom for the 
agricultural drains by puddling with clay at a depth of four feet before the draining material 
could be laid down. Repeated top-dressings of well-rotted stable manure, ashes, bone dust, &c., 
have overcome the difficulty at first experienced, and have resulted in the establishment of a 
thick and permanont sward. The classified groups of plants arranged in this locality, all of 
which have succeeded well, have been considerably augmented by the addition of fresh genera 
and species, especiaUy the orders Epacridese, Thymelese, and Proteacea3 ; also the group of 
dwarf Australian shrubs, which has been enriched with several of our beautiful indigenous 
plants that from time to time have been collected and brought from the bush. A tabulated 
list of the orders now grouped on the various lawns will be found at the end of this Report. 
For the purpose of making the aspect of the Western Lawn more effective, several 
umbrageous trees, such as oaks, &c., have been planted in suitable positions. These have 
thriven very well, and amply repay the time and labor which has been expended in trans- 
planting them. 
Several dwarf palms of the genus “ ChamaBrops,” and some Phoenix or “ Date Palm,” 
have been dotted over this lawn in conspicuous places. 
New Central Lawn. 
Like the preceding lawn, considerable difficulty has been experienced in getting the 
grass thoroughly established, owing to the stiff nature of the soil, which in this portion of the 
o-round is volcanic and very shallow. In some places the trap-rock is met with at a depth of 
six inches, and owing to the steepness of the slope to the lake, much of the irrigating water 
which would otherwise soak through the ground, runs over the surface to little purpose. There 
are many bare places in this lawn which I intend liaving top-dressed during the ensuing year, 
and by this means and the increased water supply which I hope to obtain, I have no doubt that 
by next summer the turf will be all that can be desired. 
The clumps of ornamental trees and shrubs, such as Araucarias, Pittosporums, Cor- 
dylines, variegated Coprosinas and Euonymus, Cotoneasters, Thryptomenes, Ceanothus, &c., &c., 
which were planted some time ago, as also the classified groups MyrtaceaB, Leguminosaj, 
Caprifoliacere, and Liliacem, continue to improve in growth and appearance. With a view to 
