10 
Report on the Botanic Gardens^ 
employes to perform the work having proved both inconvenient and annoying. The new systein 
has worked well, and is a marked improvement on the old, the labels being uniform throughout, 
and may now be read by anyone. Much inconvenience is frequently occasioned by persons 
displacing the tallies, and therefore apparent mistakes in nomenclature have to be rectified 
almost daily. 
The scarcity of labor during the busy seasons has compelled me to call the services of 
the carpenter, seedsman, and label-writer into requisition for the purpose of assisting in 
outdoor work in the gardens. 
Laboratory. 
The collection of vegetable extracts and preparations are being added to occasionally, 
although no extensive laboratory work has been attempted since the late International Exhi- 
bition. It is very gratifying to have to report that, notwithstanding the crude means at my 
disposal for the preparation of exhibits of economic value, at every industrial exhibition which 
has taken place, both local, intercolonial, and foreign, since the year 1876, my efforts to have 
the resources of the colony worthily represented have been so successful, that diplomas, medals, 
and certificates of merit have been awarded in each instance. 
Except to those more intimately acquainted with the internal working of my Depart- 
ment, a very imperfect idea can be formed of the vast amount of labour entailed in the getting 
up of these exhibits, the preparation of manuscript for labels, correspondence on various 
subjects, such as affording information re the culture, nomenclature, and cultivation of plants, 
&c. As an instance, it may be mentioned that the descriptive lists of the exhibits forwarded 
to the Paris Exhibition alone occupied no less than thirty-eight pages of the official catalogue, 
published by authority of the Koyal Commissioners for Victoria, whilst the collection sent to 
the late Melbourne Exhibition (supposed to be the largest of the kind ever shown in the 
colony) was deemed worthy of being catalogued in pamphlet form by the Comroissioners fot 
distribution. 
Acclimatisation and Distribution of Useful Plants. 
Several plants of economic value, such as Aleurites moluccana (Otaheite walnut), 
Mikania Guaco, the “ Guaco” of South America, a composite plant, said to possess the property 
of curing snakebite, several of the banana tribe, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (the cinnamon tree), 
and others which were jilanted out on the experimental ground some time ago for test purposes, 
have done fairly well. Special attention is directed to the fact, that the cinnamon tree planted 
in the Laurineas group has grown with greater luxuriance than those under glass, thus 
affording an illustration of what may be accomplished by selecting a suitable soil and situation. 
I may also add, as stated in my report for 1880, that “ Strict attention has been paid to the 
raising and introduction of plants of a utilitarian nature for the purpose of distribution, with 
the view to establishing and fostering new industries throughout the colony. The olive, castor- 
oil, tea plant, cinchona, fodder plants of various kinds, as grasses and herbs, and arrowroot, &c., 
have been raised in considerable quantities. Plants and seeds of these have been largely 
distributed to applicants, principally settlers, they in return furnishing indigenous ferns, shrubs, 
seeds, &c., by way of exchange.” 
Things urgently required for the purpose of making the Garden more attractive 
AND POPULAR. 
A new house for the Victoria regia is very urgently required. For the sake of economy 
I would suggest that another section of the large conservatory should be erected for the accom- 
modation of tins noble plant, as the boiler which is attached to the portion already built is 
capable of heating a very extensive area of glass. A sum should also be placed on 
the Estimates sufficient to cover the expenses consequent upon the removal and concen- 
tration of all the smaller glass houses, the advantages of which I have already explained 
m my previous Eeport. The amount of glass at present in the Gardens is totally inadequate 
or le cisp ay of plant^ not to speak of their cultivation. I have no means of growing 
l uchsias. Pelargoniums Primulas, Cinerarias, Calceolarias, and other beautiful flowering plants, 
which are so universally admired for their wealth of bloom. For this purpose at least a 
couple of cheap greenhouses should be erected, the cost of which would be altogether trifling in 
Addaide Botanic Gardens there are no fewer than seventeen glass houses (including a large 
palm house), exclusive of glass frames, and consequently there m an abupdance of lowers at 
