4 
The Superintendent of the Immigrants’ Home, T. Harcourt, Esq., 
has this year again materially aided in the improvements in the reserve, hy 
nearly completing, by labor from his establishment, a walk from the city 
bridge, along the base of the Yarra ridges, to the Botanic Garden. 
By labor and material, available at the garden, an exterior division 
has been added to the forcing house. Some substantial shades have been 
erected in the nurseries, roofed advantageously with densely perforated 
galvanized iron ; and the extension of the older propagating house in the 
central portion of the garden, togetlver with the application of an improved 
heating apparatus, is now under contract. Some arrangements have been 
made to substitute box edgings in some parts of the garden for those of 
the chamomile, since the latter are suffering so much from the summer 
drought, and involve for Ijeing kept in neatness a great amount of labor. 
The Hniarum, which forms in our highlands dense cushion-like 
patches of turf of low growth, has been introduced into the garden with a 
view of testing its adaptability for edgings. 
Three hundred pulDlic institutions have l)een supplied for the orna- 
mentation of their ground Avith plants, seeds and cuttings from this 
establishment. An exact record of these supplies is kept at the office of 
this garden, alike in this and all former years of my administration, and 
new supplies are provided for distribution during the current season. 
On one hundred and twelve occasions supplies of flowers have been 
granted to public festivals, instituted mainly for ecclesiastic, educational, 
or charitable j)urposes. 
Four exhibitions of tlie Horticultural and Gardeners’ Societies were 
held at tiie gardens within this year. 
During the coming season it is contemplated to devote the necessary 
means and labor for carrying a line of water-pipes from the south-east point 
along the main ridge of the garden to the rise beyond the western U23per 
entrance, in anticipation of the early extension of the Yan Yean aqueducts 
to the Dpmain-road, as contemplated by GoA'ernment. This measure will 
provide, it is hoped, during the next summer, a timely and adequate supply 
of water for the principal part of the garden, although the further local 
distribution must remain a gradual work of future years. When water 
becomes thus, by gravitation, copiously accessible, not only a considerable 
amount of labor now expended in manual work for the com^mnee of water 
Avill be saved, but furthermore, irrigation may be ap]3lied to many of the 
arid jiarts of the garden, and its beneficial effects may l)e demonstrated on 
our public ground to great advantage, whilst fountains may be established 
to render our cheerful locality still more attractive, and oj)23ortunities more 
favorable Avill arise for instituting experiments on the growth and yield of 
2)lants calculated to be of utility to this country. On this, amongst new 
works, and on^ the copious storage of surface water, will, therefore, our 
energies be mainly concentrated during the coming season. 
It is further intended to proA’ide a number of boAA'ers, some rockeries, 
grottoes, and other ornamental Avork ; also, copses for the shelter of Avater- 
birds on the north lagoon ; and the lake aa ill probably be embellished Avith 
some floating islands to serve as places of retreat for the increasing variety 
of Avater-foAvls, until at a subsequent period permanent islands can be formed. 
The tall Danubian reeds, NeAV Zealand flax, avIHoaa^s, and other 
conspicuous plants, need to be planted along the margin of the lagoon in 
the reserve toAvards the city bridge. 
The slope betAveen flic Avestern Avalk along the lagoon, Avhere the soil 
is better tlian in most parts of the garden, is to be diAuded into about thirtv 
exjoerimcntal^ areas for the reception of strictly useful jAlants requirinn- a 
sheltered position. Probably it Avill be Avithin our means to raise Avatcr°for 
this neAV experimental ground from the adjoining lagoon by a small wind- 
mill, such as at present provides a constant Aoav of water for the fish-tanks 
