25. Fernery , — The fernery has been very attractive during the year; the ferns 
have grown well, especially the stronger growing kinds, which now form objects o 
great beauty and are much admired by visitors. 
26. New Fernery. — A site for a new fernery is being prepared at the upper end 
of the main lake, where, it is believed, filmy ferns and other delicate plants can be 
grown under shade of the stronger growing kinds and trees, with the assistance of 
irrigation. To meet requirements, a reservoir for the retention and storage of rain 
water has been made close by the site; its dimensions are i6o'x6o' x6', and into 
it the drainage of nearly all the upper portion of the Gardens has been turned; 
from this reservoir pipes are run for the irrigation of the rock-work. The reservoir was 
brought almost to completion within the year by the Public Works Department, but 
the rock-work is still unmade, and will take time and careful thought. 
27. Labelling. — Five hundred ballau labels, at a cost of $30, were procured 
during the year, and nearly all used up. The amount of printing required has been 
greater during the year than formerly, and one man .being unequal to the work, he 
was assisted for a short time by another printer. 
28. Nurseries and Propagation. — The low ground near the Head Gardener's 
quarters was partly cleared during the year, dressed into nursery beds, and planted 
with cuttings and seeds of various plants. About an acre of the west slope of the 
hill in the same quarter has been cleared and levelled to a serviceable gradient, at a cost 
of $100, for transplanting purposes. The fancy plant nursery near the plant-house 
has also been well kept up during the year. In these nurseries, about 20,000 plants 
have been propagated, and disposed of (approximately) as follows : — Sold in small lots 
to the public, 700 ; Government Institutions, 6,790 ; Colonial exchanges, 792 ; sent 
abroad, 1,210; used in improvements within the Gardens, 6,000 ; retained, 4,608. 
29. During the past year, the lawns, flower-beds and plant-houses have been 
more directly than heretofore under the control of the Head Gardener (Mr. Fox), owing 
to the frequent absences of the Superintendent on Forest duty, and much credit is 
due to him for the numerous improvements which have been effected. 
30. Aviaries. — The new aviaries, re-erected last year, answer the purpose well, 
and little trouble from rats, which were the pest in the old structure, has been experi- 
enced. Nearly all the cages on one side have been kept in reserve for a collection of 
birds expected from Australia in exchange for a collection sent, but the season there 
prevented their being sent within the year. 
31. The following contributions to the Aviaries have been received, viz. : — M. 
Bean, Esq., one eagle ; Hon’ble E. E. ISEMONGER, one adjutant and one bittern ; 
Hon'ble W. E. Maxwell, one stork. 
In addition to the above, a few cockatoos and paraqueets were purchased, 
32. Economic Plant —The collections of economic plants are now under the 
care of the Forest Department, and will be found detailed in the Report on Forests. 
33. Police Protection. — The system protecting the Gardens by special 
Police, works well upon the whole, but occasionally plants are stolen, and the past 
year has seen three plants of a new fern (Adiantum Fergusonii) removed in one night, 
and although every effort was 'made by the Police Force generally to recover them, 
nothing so far has been heard of them. 
34. Flo er Show. — The annual Flower Show was held on the 15th and 1 6th 
of June, the weather was exceedingly fine, which brought a very large attendance 
during the day as well as at the night illumination. 
It is satisfactory to find that the chief plant-house still affords admirable accommo- 
dation for these exhibitions, there being no crowding anywhere. 
35. Interchange of Plants and Seeds. — The number of plants received from 
abroad during the year was 1,319? and 729 packets of seeds. I he number of plants 
sent out was 1,210, and 454 packets of seeds. 
The following have been the chief contributors : — 
■ The Botanical Gardens, Trinidad, 9 packets seeds, among which were the 
Mam me Apple, Davi Davi, Mohagany, and West Indian Palms; /^oyal Gardens, 
Kew, 35 plants and about 16 tb seeds, including the Mountain Papaya, the Lace Bark 
