REPO R T . 
Melbouene Botanic Gabdbn, 
15tli April, 1863. 
SlE, 
I have the honor of submitting to you a succinct report on the 
progress of the labors in the Botanic Garden during the past year ; and 
simultaneously I beg to oifer some brief remarks on the intended work of 
the coming season. 
The extensive ground under cultivation absorbs already for its 
maintenance and improvements a proportion of labor so large as to render 
measures for any considerable new access to the flower borders undesirable, 
especially since hitherto no means for obtaining an adequate supply of 
water are available. But, as new works of the jiast season, I may 
instance the extension of the Pineta, both in the eastern and western part 
of the garden ; the formation of the western lower main walk, edged with 
basalt boulders along the base of the declmty above ; the interplantation 
of elms in the Eucalyptus avenue leading from the city bridge to the 
Botanic Garden, and the formation of pineries in the latter locality, on the 
slopes along the Yarra. The latter plantation was commenced last season, 
and is at present under progress of extension. The total effect of masses 
of Deodoras, Wellingtonias, Italian firs, and of superior Californian pines, 
which, with the quickly grovdng cluster pines, are mainly selected and 
reared for this localitjq cannot he otherwise than grand, when at a future 
period viewed from the city; and we may anticipate that, by the display of 
these noble trees, a most picturesque feature aaIU he introduced into the 
metropolitan landscape. This plantation will afford, after a series of years, 
also, the means of obtaining large annual supplies of seeds of these pines 
for forest-culture. 
An avenue, from the Richmond Park railway station to the foot- 
bridge of the Yarra, is under process of formation. Another avenue of 
walnut trees is formed between the office building and the Museum. A 
considerable A'ariety of roses have been consociated in the rear of the larger 
conseiwatory. Numerous trees, chiefly of deciduous foliage, haA'e been 
added to the CA^ergreen ones Avhich line the passage betAveen the lake and 
Yarra River. A number of select trees from tlie subtropical parts of 
Eastern Australia haA^c fouiul a permanent place on the sheltered slopes of 
tlie middle part of the garden. Bj'^ the removal of some of the native 
trees, the noble forms of the noAV already conspicuous Araucarias, planted 
on the slope fronting the AA-estern part of the lagoon, haA^e come advan- 
tageously into A'ieAv. To the variety of hedges, established aa ith a desire 
that visitors may he able to judge of their respectRe A^alue, and amongst 
AAdiich the Ceanothus-hedges are deserving of particular attention, one has 
been added of the eA^'crgreen South European May, a highly ornamental 
bush, seemingly well adapted for the purpose. A roAV of the sliady West 
Australian Red Gum trees (Eucalyptus calophylla) has been recently 
established along the Domain-road, and a short aA'enue of the Abele poplar 
is under formation. 
