4 
textilis, a still more important species of Banana, as the outer layers of the 
stem furnish the material for the Manilla rope, whilst the inner layers are 
worked up into finer cordage, delicate textile fabrics, and wearing apparel^of 
great lightness ; the Catechu Palm of India ; the occidental Plane ; the White 
Poplar ; the Balsam Poplar ; the Panax Murrayi, a tree with the graceful 
habit of a Coco palm ; the Western Australian Mahogany, so valuable for 
the indestructibility of its timber ; the umbrageous Redgiim tree from the 
last-mentioned country, which is in our nurseries now rather abundantly 
available for the formation of avenues ; a number of American Oaks, raised 
from acorns kindly supplied by Professor Asa Gray, of Boston, and amongst 
which the large-leaved Quercus macrocarpa is particularly valuable ; the 
Black Walnut ; the Hognut : the Shelbark Hickory ; the Woolly Hickory ; 
the Gloucester Nut ; the Aruatto Plant ; two kinds of South American 
Custard Apples; the Indian Teak ; the Billberry-like Wittsteinia from Mount 
Baw-Baw ; the Lemon-scented Eucalyptus from the warm parts of Eastern 
Australia ; the North American gigantic Cereus, whose columns attain a 
height of above fifty feet and bear pulpy edible fruit much esteemed by the 
native race of North Mexico ; Bonapartea juncea, a valuable Peruvian fibre 
plant; the Copal tree; the Gutta Pcrcha tree; the Chinese Litchi; the Chinese 
Lac Sumach ; the Noilh American Umbrella ^lagnolia ; a number of seed- 
lings of the Cochineal Cactus; besides many other plants of moi*e or less 
general interest, which it Avould lead too far to enumerate, and of which the 
majority had not previously found their way into this country. 
The number of iron labels distributed over the ground amounts now 
to nearly 3000. Many iron seats have been provided. 
The Orchestra Pavillioii has been surrounded by melias six or seven 
years old, for the sake of the grateful shade which they will early afford. 
A most valuable assortment of more than .“^0 species of imported 
oaks, indigenous to Europe, Asia, and America, including the Valouia Oak, 
from the Levant, fiimous for the strong tanning power and consequently 
highly marketable value of its acorns ; the Cork Oak, and otlier species of 
more than merely ornamental merit, have been planted together on the lawn, 
between the office building and storehouse, and have, with the exception of 
the Mexican Q. agrifolia, withstood the trying drought of the season remark- 
ably well. Adjoining to this oak plantation are located on a grassy plot 
rather numerous species of Hollies from difierent parts of the globe, and 
which liave also endured the heat of this summer well. A number of 
Eucalypti from East and West Australia, many divergent from the type of 
their V ictorian congeners, occupy now one of the small lawns in the central 
garden, whilst the gentle grassy rise around and beyond the palmhouse was 
chosen as a permanent place for a splendid assemblage of pines of several 
j years growtli, including species of this noble tribe of plants from almost 
every part of the globe. These, no doubt, will in due time form as conspi- 
cuous and attractive a feature in the laudscajie as the Araucaria pinetum on 
the north-western decliv ity of the garden, and it will be interesting to watch 
and compare the relative celerity of growth of these superb plants. 
A great improvement has been effected by the completion of the iron 
fences all round the Botanic Garden, a costly Avork, but Avhich Avill endure 
for ages. I he remainder of the decaying Avooden fences haA^e been remoA^ed, 
and a clieerful A'icAv is thus opened OA’er the adjoining laAvns and reserves. 
of drainage has been extended over the experimenta 
... - — — ~ experimental 
division of the garden. The formation of a second main walkthrough the 
northern reserve is in progress, the material needed for the purpose being 
brought from the (juarries and gravel-pits of the slopes on the ojiposite side 
or the 1 arra. Rows of Elms, spreading Poplars, Locust trees, and Oriental 
1 lanes are established along- some of the paths of the reserve, the latter 
exquisite tree being for the first time adopted for the formation of av’enues 
it may not be inappropriate to remark, that our trials 
ill Australia. 
■o 
Here 
