6 
water by tbe Nile Papyrus, aud other plants of grand or phantastic form. 
It may also be within the means at my disposal to build a special conservatory 
for the growth of epiphytal orchids, as with some slight modifications of the 
heating apparatus of the palmhouse an adjoining building might he kept at 
the needful standard tempei’atui'e. 
The number of plants distributed solely to public institutions in 
Victoria during the year amounts to 42,519, of seeds, to 14,689 papers. To 
Government gardens beyond Victoria were transmitted 2,260 jdauts and 
28,589 papers of seeds. 235 public institutions throughout the Colony 
derived thus advantage from our supplies. During the year flowers were 
supplied for public festivals on 91 occasions. 24 cases with plants were 
sent abroad, and 18 were received. Considerable quantities of cuttings have 
also been distributed ; nor are, in the number of seeds above given, those 
included of the Chinese Tea, of the Sea Island Cotton plant, of various 
kinds of Tobacco, and of other prominently useful plants, which Avere 
generally distributed. A very considerable supply of plants provided for the 
new Zoological Garden is also not included in the above computations. In 
the distribution of plants to public institutions I have been mindful to diffuse, 
as far as possible, also plants of particular utility simultaneously with those 
of ornamental character. The Ncav Zealand Flax, the Osage Orange, the 
jf Chinese Tea, the British Sloe, the Liquorice, the Aloe, the Silkworm-Mul- 
berry tree, the British Blackben’y, which proves to be remarkably j)r olifi.c , 
the Elder, the Chinese Grasscloth, the Ailantus, yielding food to a hardy 
species of silkworm, the Stone Pine, and some other plants of economic value 
were amongst those rendei’ed available to vai’ious districts of the Colony. 
To coast plantations we furnished many plants of the Cluster Pine and Sea- 
shore Pine, which, Avhen once established, Avill be of great value for arresting 
the progTess of sand I'idges inland. A copious supply of seeds of our 
heat-resisting trees and glasses were transmitted to the British Consul at 
Jerusalem, for aiding in his endeavors to restore forests in some noiv timberless 
wastes of the Holy Land, aud we learn that the first experiments have been 
attended with marked success. We responded also to similar calls from 
various other parts of the globe, where the rapidity of groAvth, the solidity of 
the wood, and the imperishable foliage of our trees are Avell acknoAvledged 
and appreciated. 
With tlie rising importance of private nurseries, in which British and 
foreign trees and choice aud select ornamental plants, not less than those 
destined for the orchard, are cultivated by thousands, it aauU be desirable for 
the encouragement of the trade in plants to limit the supjily from our 
establishment to private gardens still more rigorously than hitherto, and 
whilst the claims of donors on our reciprocation, AA’henever it should specially 
be desii'ecl, Avill be respected, it is pi’oposed to offer for exchanges only such 
plants as arc not to be procured in the private nurseries. For the exclusive 
benefit of strictly public establishments tbroughout the Colony also in future 
(during a limited period of the year) such supplies Avill be held available as 
the means at command Avill admit of fin'uishing, Avithout causing by an undue 
abstraction of labor serious impediment to the ])rogress of our OAvn Avork. 
Three borticultural exhibitions AA'ere held at the gardens during the 
year 1861. If a permanent building, AAdiich also in general Avould be 
accessible to A’isitors as a place of resort and shelter, could be erected in 
the garden, these shoAA"s, Avhich tend so much to diffuse taste and knowledge 
in horticultiu’e, might be held much nioi'e frequently and advantageously. 
At present, the erection of tents and stages is attended Avith constantly 
rencAA'ed expenditure to the societies fostering these objects. 
The benefit of the attendance of Mr. Jolinson’s band Avas enjoyed on 
various occasions, a fiiAmr Avhich Ave trust aaoU be continued, and will receive 
always the appreciation Avhich it so highly deserves. 
It would be unnecessary to offer a progress report on the zoological 
