7 
of information. Any fruit in future hereby obtained may be transmitted to our hospitals 
and benevolent institutions. In laying out this ground it has been my object, by inter- 
spersing the plants of utility with evergreen ornamental shrubs and trees, to retain the 
landscape beauty of the spot unimpaired. 
Some additional portions of the ground have been brought under cultivation. 
A line of basalt boulders’ has been placed along the abrupt edge of the northern lagoon ; 
the island in tlie latter has been raised beyond the height of ordinary Yarra floods and 
planted for shelter of breeding waterfowl ; the depressions in the ground of the northern 
reserve have been filled up. The number of seats become augmented. Unimpeded access 
to the Yarra footbridge also at night time will be given in future by a lateral footpath 
leading from the bridge to the public road at the eastern side of the gardens. 
Additional painted iron tallies have been attached to such an extent to the plants 
througliout the ground as to augment their number considerably beyond two thousand ; 
also part of the old ones being replaced. 
In the class-ground, where the principal hardy representatives of the various 
natural orders of plants are concentrated in systematic order, information on most of the 
species established in the garden may be gathered at an ea.sy glance. Eeviewing, for 
instance, those Coniferae assembled there, it will be at once perceived which species of pines 
are deserving our particular attention when jdaced in compai’atively barren and exposed 
positions. 
The quick development and healthy appearance of the Cupressus macrocarpa, 
torulosa, Uhdeana, of the Cedar of Goa, the Deodor Cedar, the Araucarias from Moreton 
Bay, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia, of the Wide Bay Kaurie, which endures the 
vicissitudes of our climate evidently better than its New Zealand congener, the Ja 2 ranese 
Cryptomeria, which ripens its seed-vessels here already in the fifth year of its growth, of 
the New Zealand Totara, of Podocarpas elata, of the Cluster Pine, Haleppo Pine, Corsican 
Pine, of Juniperus Bermudiana, of the native Callitri,s, of the East Australian Octoclinis, 
of Taxodium and Sequoia, and above all, of the Cupressus Goveniana, will on inspection 
persuade the visitor of the desirability of having these useful and noble pines planted 
copiously throughout the country. 
Of the Sassafras Bark, which might be so extensively gathered in many of our 
fem-tree gullies, specimens have been forwarded to Baron Liebig and Dr. Wittstein, who 
have readily consented to subject this valuable drag to a chemical analysis, whereby it is 
hoped that its powerful tonic properties will be more universally recognised and a 
remunerative article of export be added to our native resources. 
It may not be improper to .state on this occasion that the principles to which 
I have adhered in my administration of tliis establishment are to conduct my operations 
so that the intrinsic property of the gardens and its institutions may increase in proportion 
to the outlay and support granted by the Government and Legislature, and that the sum 
invested may yield an ample return in the supplies provided by us, irrespective of our 
endeavor to render the establishment a source of recreation and information to the 
multitude of our fellow-colonists. 
The number of visitors counted on Sundays as entering the gardens at the main 
gates has been during 1860, in the southern ground, 125,059 ; in the northern ground, 
79,010. 
II.— Zoological Department. 
In this division of our establishment a steady progress has taken place during the 
year, and whilst most of the animals, when recovered from the effects of transit, have 
enjoyed at all seasons perfect health, it has also been satisfactory to notice their increase 
and therewith the augmented value of our property. Thus thirteen llamas, five angoras, 
five faUow deer, and one Sumatra deer, were bom during the past year. The llamas, 
which when we received them, less than two years ago, numbered nineteen, are now 
