April, 1925 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
9 
that Queensland should possess Gardens where not only 
representatives of the flora of other parts of the world 
can be seen, but also a representation as complete as 
possible, of the Queensland flora. The interest in such 
Gardens should not be restricted to naturalists, for, in- 
dependent of the pure .Scientific value of such Gardens -to 
the botanist, and their general interest to the commu- 
nity, such work of an economic nature might be asso- 
ciated with them. Little more than ten years ago there 
were founded at Kirstenbosch, in South Africa, National 
Gardens for the cultivation of South African plants, 
keeping in view the national, .scientific and economic 
importance of such an institution. To-day, these Gardens 
rank about third among the Gardens of the woidd. The 
unification of the suburbs of Capetown under one Coun- 
cil synchronised with the setting aside of over 1,000 
acres of land on the. slopes of Table Mountain, where 
the Gardens were founded. Tn view of the great national 
value of such gardens and the fact that botanical studies 
are noAV being more seriously fostered in Queensland, 
it appeals to me that the suitable time has now arrived 
for suggesting that an extensive area should be set 
aside by the Greater Brisbane Council for the purposes 
of National Gardens. Such an area should be sufficiently 
large to enable the cultivation of all types of our native 
flora, and the aim in view should be mainly scientific. 
The institution of such Gardens would do much to 
stimulate work on the economic possibilities of our flora, 
many aspects of which are as yet practically untouched. 
Such Gardens should be accessible by tram or bus from 
the city, and for this reason it Ls desirable that the matter 
should receive early attention. Suitable lands for such 
Gardens is available at the present day, but early allo- 
cation is advisable if a sufficiently large area is to be 
safeguarded. Queensland is a very large State, and for 
that reason encouragement should be given towards the 
support of Botanic Gardens iu other parts of the State; 
but, nevertheless, National Gardens offer the best ad- 
vantages where facilities for scientific research, scientific 
workers, well equipped libraries, and a Univei’sity 
exist. I trust this project will in the near future meet 
with consideration, and that definite action will be taken 
along the lines suggested. 
The in,stitution of Zoological Gardens might be ad- 
vocated with perhaps less cogency, but the desirability 
