8 
species of here cultivated trees and shrubs seeds were collected in as large a quantity as 
available for interchanges. Of grasses the seeds of 170 kinds, of ferns the spores of 80 
species were likewise harvested in the Garden. Of herbaceous plants 1,100 species were 
last summer under cultivation. The Queensland plants, grouped on one of the slopes of 
the grassy garden-valley, have endured well the vicissitudes of our clime. The hedge of 
Pittosporum eugenioides proves a feature equally interesting and ornamental, and as the 
plants can be raised with facility from seeds, and these are so readily accessible in New 
Zealand, this Pittosporum, as Well as the allied P. tenuifolium, might be extensively 
employed for surrounding garden areas. Noltea Africana has recommended itself similarly 
for hedging. The call on our nurseries has been as extensive as ever for supplying plants 
to church and school reserves, cemeteries, and other public institutions. To Parliament 
House reserve lately 132 plants of pines several years old and 50 large sized bushes 
have been transferred. How extensively useful the establishment has been in dispersing 
superior trees and other plants over the country is evinced by the unparalleled instance, 
that alone of 40,000 Stone Pines raised at one time, and of 7,000 Deodar Cedars raised at 
another, barely enough were left for the use of the department after satisfying public 
demands. Under these circumstances, it cannot be otherwise than that the obligation 
of providing at so large a scale for the requirements of the public ground throughout the 
whole colony must be excessively burdensome to the department, and were the resources 
of the establishment to suffer reduction, it would be impossible to respond also in future, 
as I am still prepared, to all the claims for extensive supplies of plants or for furnisliing 
almost daily cut flowers for fetes of charities or other public demonstrations. 
Nevertheless I regard the claims of the inhabitants of country districts, who cannot 
draw the same direct advantage from the Garden as metropolitan visitors, the claim to 
enjoy the indirect benefit of supplies for their public institutions from an establishment 
solely supported out of the general revenue as extremely just, and their wants have 
therefore continually and cheerfully been attended to. Thus, 209 institutions have been 
supplied during the past planting season. If the needful tending has been bestowed on 
all the plants since a series of years from hence distributed, the gifts conferred must be 
evident in all directions throughout the Victorian territory. 
Seeds of such eminently useful plants as will bear a tropical clime have been 
provided for several of the northern settlements of Australia, as also for the expedition 
sent out by the ladies in search of Dr. Leichhardt. Among the seeds distributed were 
large quantities of various kinds of cotton, mainly received from the Manchester Associa- 
tion, who moreover very thoughtfully and liberally presented a very excellent cotton-gin 
to the department. 
The distribution of plants to private gardens has been very limited, and in 
reciprocation only, pines and purchasable plants being excluded from the exchange. 
Investigations into the causes of rust in cereals engaged my attention during a 
portion of last summer. The results of the enquiry, one which needs to be largely 
extended, were submitted in a report to the Board of Agriculture. For many experiments 
of a chemical or technological character, we are sadly in want of a laboratory and 
apparatus, requirements which unavoidably must be provided for, if such investigations 
as led to the recognition of the mercantile value of many oils, gums, resins, barks and 
other vegetable substances are to be continued, or anew to be initiated. The efforts to 
provide for the last great home Exhibition have been followed by many gratifying results. 
As a fact not very generally known, I may instance that from the resin of the Grass trees 
picric acid can be prepared, now so extensively used as a yellow dye, and on a basis of 
Indigo for green color. That unbounded treasures of our forests, available by dry 
distillation of their woods, remain dormant is but too apparent, and in the furtherance 
of native industry, and in affording new means for the employment of the colonists, the 
special application of technological chemistry should be brought to bear on this branch 
