6 
We have been favored with the importation of a large quantity of tea seeds 
through the generosity of His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of Hong 
Kong. Notwithstanding the enormous discrepancy in the price of labor in the native 
country of the tea plant and here, it may be presumed that the trial of the growth will 
finally prove advantageous for local supply, particularly to the Chinese population in 
remote inland distiicts. 
Some additional walks were formed both in the northern and southern ground 
and lined with trees, the road material being conveyed from the quarries and gravel jrits 
adjoining the gardens. 
An.xious to afford in due course of time the greatest facility for information on the 
respective value of trees, either deciduous or evergreen, eligible for avenues, I selected 
and established as great a variety in our garden for this purpose of those likely to prosper 
in this climate and which were within my reach. Haleppo Pines, Illawarra Flame trees. 
Sycamores, Ailantus glandulosa, Powlonias, Blue Gums, Elm.'^, White Cedars, Moreton 
Bay Figs, Silver Wattles, New Zealand and Gipps Land Pittosporums (P. uudulatum 
and P. eugenioides). Black Poplars, Pojfiar Bottle trees (Brachychiton pojjulneum), 
Laburnum, Gi’evillea robusta, Sxigar Maples, Corynocarpus, Chinese Locust trees, have 
already been planted. To these will be added Oriental Planes, Hymenosi^orum flavum, 
the Red Gum tree of Western Australia, Virgilia Capensis, Mulberries, Parkinsonia 
aculeata, several .species of Ash, Elm, Poplar, Glochidion Australe, Cupania xylocarpa. 
North American Locust trees, Spanish Chesnut, Horse-chesnuts, Manna Ash, Walnuts, 
Olives, Bottle trees (Delabechea), and other hardy suitable trees, of many of which a 
supply is provided in our nurseries. The Oriental Plane, as pointed out by Mr. Edward ' 
Wilson, is probably in tliis climate one of the most suitable of all deciduous trees for 
planting along public promenades. 
I can, however, not suppress my opinion that some of the deciduous trees of the 
cold temperate zone are, in exposed locaZities, less adapted for our avenues than many 
of the evergreen trees from isothermal parallels corresponding ndth ours, aud it appears 
de.sirable that whenever deciduous trees are chosen for long lines of public plantations 
(unless the lining of streets be excepted) they should alternate with such as bear ever- 
green foliage, to avoid the appearance of unbroken masses of leafless trees' during that 
season when we enjoy the most lovely verdure in our vegetation. With a view of 
establishing m future a shady promenade between the City bridge and the southern 
division of the garden, a double line of Eucalyptus globulus has been planted ; this tree 
has been chosen not only on account of its unparalleled rapidity of growth, but also as one 
of the few capable of resisting the drought to which that special locality is so strongly 
exposed. Interplantation of elms is contemplated, aud as the trees gradually advance to 
stiength, their lasting iron enclosures will again be available to raise successively row 
after row of varied trees throughout our reserves. 
The rapid decay of the wooden fences has suggested the renewal of all our en- 
closures bj iron railings, a change which, greatly improving the appearance of our ground, 
has during the past year already been partially effected. Whilst carrying this measure 
out we w-eie enabled to extend con.siderably the nursery ground, from whence annual 
supplies, mcreased with the augmented requirements of our public institutions, will bo 
rendered available. It afforded also the opportunity of temj)orarily enclosing, under the 
•sanction of the Honorable Board of Land and Works, about three acres of the domain at 
the south-western part of the gar.len. This piece of ground, situated in the immediate 
vicinity of the office liuilding, and thus, under more direct constant supeiwision than the 
other parts^ of the garden, is now devoted to the establishment of a sjiecial experimental 
garden, which lu the less protected parts of our ground it would have been vain to initiate. 
A variety of carefully named fruit tree.s, for the greater part a donation of Messrs. 
Seidel, of Ceres nursery, of dye, medicinal, and fibre plants, vines, grasses, forage plants, 
Ac., will here be subjected to experiments, and may affo«.l to the visitors another source 
