Government Ilo^xse Grounds and Domain, for 1881. 
7 
to hospitals, &c., as the demand for the same is annually increasing. Strange to say, some of the 
commonest British herbs and roots are unohtainahle in the Australian colonies when wanted for 
medicinal purposes. I have, however, written to Europe and America for seeds and plants of 
such as will be likely to prove of service. It is my ultimate intention, should available funds 
be placed at my disposal, to have a small octagonal glass house erected in the medical garden 
for the purpose of displaying to students, and others interested, those exotic plants which are 
of too tender a nature to grow in the open ground, such as Cepluelis (ipecacuanha), Siphoma 
elastica (indiau-rubber or caoutchouc tree), Stryclmos nux vomica (strychnine tree). Cinchona 
(Peruvian bark), A3gle marmelos (Bengal quince). Quassia amara (quassia bark tree). Piper 
cubeba (cubebs). Piper nigrum (black pepper), Croton Eleuteria (cascarilla bark), Myroxylon 
Toluifera (balsam of Tolu), Butea frondosa (Bengal kino). Cassia fistula, Amomum Carda- 
momam (round or cluster cardamom). Zingiber officinale (ginger), Caryophyllus aromaticus 
(clove tree), Tamarindus iudicus (tamarind), and a host of others equally interesting and 
valuable, but which at the present time are crowded amongst other plants of a miscellaneous 
character. 
Approach to Bridge over Yarra. 
Tlie raised walk leading from the Gardens to the bridge over the Yarra river has under- 
gone a complete change. The unsightly Wattles and Buddleias, which grew in wild confusion 
along the Anderson street fence, have been cleared away, thus opening up a pretty view of 
Richmond and the river, which was altogether unattainable previously. The sides of the raised 
approach have been rebuilt and dressed off at a gentle slope to the boundary fence on the one 
hand, and the margin of the lake on the other. To effect this alteration, 1,800 loads of filling- 
up material, composed of clay and loam, had to be carted and spread, after which an avenue of 
Populus alba (white or silver poplar) was planted. A very heavy and necessary piece of work, 
in connection with the foregoing, was the raising of the iron fence, which was buried for several 
hundred yards in length and to a considerable depth, by the Melbourne City Corporation, when 
forming a footpath some time ago, at the lower end of Anderson street. 
The walk on the top of the bank, 190 yards in length, which was not properly made at 
first, has been reformed, levelled off, and 70 cubic yards of gravel spread over its surface. 
This not only improves its appearance, but also renders it much more comfortable to pedestrians 
to walk upon. Buffalo grass has been laid on each side of the walk so as to form a pleasing 
margin, and to help to consolidate the embankment. 
Walk at Foot of Experimental Bank. 
The old footpath, which skirted the experimental bank from the rustic bridge near the 
buffalo grass lawn to the Yarra bank entrance, at the uorUi-western extremity of the lake, has 
been remodelled, and is now eight feet in width. In its formation more than 300 loads of 
ballasting was expended, after which 50 loads of gravel was spread over its surface. Simul- 
taneously with this work the approaches to the new rustic bridge, which connects this walk 
with the Yarra embankment, were also gravelled, and a number of suitable trees and shrubs 
planted on each side. 
General Remarks. 
The borders generally, including the old portion of the Gardens, have received every 
possible attention, and a good display of flowers has been maintained thioughout the 
year. The pruning of roses and other shrubs, trimming of edgings, mulching, tying and 
staking plants, raking, rolling, and cleaning of walks, watering, irrigating, digging, sowing of 
seeds, planting, transplanting, &c., has been satisfactorily performed ; besides which, gravel has 
been excavated and carted as required for the repair and formation of walks. Pegs and stakes 
have been also made during wet weather, for bulbs and other plants ; extensive compost heaps 
have been formed and regularly turned over to ensure decomposition ; and a large amount of 
other incidental work has been accomplished. During the months of November and December, 
as a rule, strong winds prevail, often causing considerable damage to plants, and entailing much 
labor in retying and staking them. During the prevalence of heavy rains, more especially in 
severe thunder storms, great damage is caused to many of the walks, owing to the hilly nature 
of the grounds. The frequency of the damage to walks from the causes indicated is always a 
severe tax on the labor of the establishment, as a great deal of time is absorbed in getting the 
gravel, which has been washed off the walks, out of the lake and other places where it has been 
swept by ffce force of the storm water. 
