14 
dens in 1771, and he made large collec 
tions, which brought Cape flowers into 
notice both in Europe and America. 
In the place of daisies are numerous 
species of Arctotis, Calendula, Tagetes, 
Gazania, and other composite. One of the 
trailing Tagetes is known here as Cape 
marigold, with its bright yellow flowers 
and whitish foliage presents a type of the 
flowers of most of the genus, only the 
others stand erect often 2 ft. high. The 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
MARCH 2, 1903 
stems of the Arctotis are fleshy and sweet 
to the taste, and children chew them. 
Close to these flowers grow many species 
of Oxalis, red, pink, and yellow, the wood 
sorrels. Some are shrubby, others low on 
the ground ; a few have esculent roots. 
Towards Christmas, Everlastings abound. 
Purple and yellow Xeranthemums, Helip- 
terums, and others are gathered by armfuls 
for house decoration, and pretty pink and 
white Gnaphaliums grow in every rocky 
cleft. As you are slowly walking along 
collecting your treasures you are suddenly 
arrested, for the air is filled with fragrance 
from some unseen source, which soon is 
discovered to be the white flowers of the 
climbing Asparagus. Yards of it are taken 
home to enwreath the pictures, though it 
is difficult to realise it is Christmas Day, 
when the sun shines brilliantly and the 
thermometer is in the nineties. 
Yana, Albany, Cape Colony. 
THE BALLARAT GARDENS, VICTORIA, 
Photo. by Ninnis] 
The town of Ballarat, in Victoria, is one 
of the many surprises that the globe trotter 
meets with in a new country like Australia. 
Being built upon golden foundations there 
need be little surprise that a city of consider- 
able proportions and beauty should rise in 
the course of but comparatively few years to 
all the dignity that wealth can bestow. The 
city is famous for several things. ‘The mines 
come first, of course, and its manufactures. 
But our interest lies in the beauty of its 
surroundings. The laying out of the city 
with ornamental trees and embellishment 
by statuary, are topics of controversy 
amongst landscape gardeners and artists. 
We have no intention of entering upon this 
BBD 
aa na nN ST ee ee 9 et em tend Rt iio aannnit ae? 
Front Entrance. 
controversy, interesting as it may be, but 
we are introducing our readers to the public 
gardens as a beauty spot, not merely worth 
visiting for a pleasant perambulation, but 
where many hours of interest and instruction 
may be spent, amongst the floral beauties, 
the splendid landscapes, and the giant forest 
trees. 
The gardens, which were formerly the 
site of the police paddock, were laid out 45 
years ago by the late Mr. G. Longley, who 
served his apprenticeship at Lowther 
Castle, in the North of England. So well 
and truly and artistically was his initial work 
done, and so faithfully carried on that he 
made the gardens the source of his delight 
(Ballarat, 
for 41 years. They are now divided into two 
sections, northern and southern, managed 
respectively by Mr. Lingham and Mr, 
Rooney. During the summer months they 
grow an enormous quantity of flowers, and the 
gardens from end to end are one blaze of 
rich colourings, beautifully and artistically 
blended Gorgeous as the summer bloom- 
ing may be, the autumn vies successfully in 
beauty with it. The deciduous trees with 
their autumn tints contrasted with the 
prevailing shades of green are the artist’s 
delight. 
That the peopleappreciate all this splendour 
of nature’s charm is evidenced in the fact 
that during the season some 30,000 picnickers 
