6 
inexpensively provided by its connection with one of the forcing pits, while, in the humid heat, Vanilla 
and many other epiphytal Orchids of the jungles of the torrid zone find here the conditions necessary 
for their permanent existence. The standard collection of Vines and Orchard trees has annually 
been added to. Fruit from these has been supplied to public charities. The experimental ground has 
also annually grown richer. To attempt to specify the treasures of the Garden, whether utilitarian or 
ornamental (many first introduced by the Director into Australia), is beyond the scope of these 
pages. The special catalogue appended to this document will exhibit many which we possess, but 
not all, inasmuch as thousands of plants occur yet in too young a state to correct their erroneous 
appellations. Mere varieties and garden hybrids, as a general rule, have been excluded from the 
catalogue. In a full account of the botanical establishment, submitted by order of the Government 
to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, I specially alluded to some of the leading useful 
\ or remarkable plants. But an explanatory enumeration of all would enlarge to a volume, or might 
find space in a contemplated publication, which would serve as a garden guide. To add still further to 
this valuable collection, Mr. Heyne proceeded, at my request, early this year to Sydney, to select from 
the local conservatories. In this object he was very liberally supported by Mr. C. Moore. The 
suppression of the two principal kinds of Mistletoe (Loranthus pendulus and Loranth. celastroides), 
which, on neglected ground, often manifest themselves by the widely visible dead ramifications of the 
trees, causes here much loss of labor. The annihilation of the trophy guns throughout Britain 
suggests the propriety of removing those which occupied for some years a position in this Garden. 
The spot allotted to them might far more pleasingly be occupied by a small ornamental building, in 
which the native birds, which, permanently or migratively, are inmates of the Garden area (approxi- 
mately 140 species), could be illustrated by single museum specimens, to satisfy constant inquiry in 
reference to the scientific names of the species. The lake is often swarming with water birds, the 
tame swans, pelicans, ducks, &c., acting as decoy birds. Thrushes -teem in the shrubberies. To the 
aviary, donations of parrots, cockatoos, and other showy native birds, not formerly kept, would add 
much interest. The formation of an outdoor fresh-water tank, for the culture of hardy aquatics, 
which in the lake generally succumb under the prey of water birds, is highly recommendable. The 
introduction and multiplication of important plants, of industrial or medicinal value, has received 
careful attention. Thus, about 1 0,000 young Peru bark plants have been raised, comprising mainly 
Cinchona succirubra, C. calisaya and C. officinalis, the latter, the most hardy of all, jDredominating. 
These plants have withstood the night frosts, which we experience near Melbourne, when 
merely placed in brush shades. On one occasion the thermometer in these shades sunk to 28° F., 
while in the open ground it stood at 24° F. near the surface ; still the plants suffered not further 
than getting some of the leaves and youngest branches injured, but soon formed new leaf-buds. 
These frosts affect, moreover, also some of the plants which inhabit the mild sheltered glens of our 
ranges, and I am, therefore, justified in anticipating that, in many of the warmer forest regions of 
Victoria, the Cinchonse could be grown to advantage, these plants being consociated with Fern trees in 
their native haunts in the middle regions of the Andes. Coffee plants scarcely suffered in the brush 
shades, in which the temperature may be regarded almost analogous to that of our fern-tree gullies. 
It would be very important to ascertain, by actual test in the ranges, whether the Coffee and 
Cinchon® would yield prolifically. In such localities, under any circumstances, the Tea-shrub would so 
luxuriate as to produce an abundant crop of leaves, since even in dry localities of the Botanic Garden, 
and in its poor soil, the Tea-bushes have grown quite well. Cork-Oaks, of which, like of Tea, several 
thousand plants are reared, would also produce far more rapidly their useful bark in the ranges than 
near the city; there the American Hickories and Walnuts, of which a copious supply of seedlings 
exist, would grow much faster. These, with the Red Cedar, West Australian Mahogany, Sumach, 
Scotino, Dates, Carob trees, Valonia and Dye-Oaks, Mastix trees, Arrowroot, and perhaps also 
Tapioca, Tamarinds, and very many other prominently utilitarian plants, would thrive best in the 
rich humid soil of our mountains, and might occupy localities not readily eligible for cereals. 
Observations in reference to the effect of night frosts on the principal plants, as well as records 
concerning the flowering time of various species, are registered in the office. Notes are also 
accumulating respecting the adaptability of the dry desert tracts, and again of the alpine highlands, 
to certain cultures. By a Parliamentary return submitted last year, it was shown tliat, from 1859 
lill July 8, 1867, not less than 355,218 plants were distributed to the public reserves, cemeteries, 
church and school grounds of Victoria. During 1868, again, 49,475 plants were rendered available 
