1 Dec., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 425 
for the concession. The right was accordingly submitted to public tender, and the 
sum of £400) per annum was offered and accepted, no offer being made by the 
out-going lessee. As the site of the old kiosk is included in a dredging scheme 
contemplated by the Government, advantage was taken of the change to transfer the 
site of the new building to a more central and accessible position. 
The cages in as the small animals, natives of the State, have been kept have 
been in constant use for about forty years, and have been for some time a serious 
menace to the public health. I have had new cages made with the ordinary labour, 
and the old cages cleared away. ‘The new ones are in an airy position, well ventilated 
and more healthy and suitable in every way. The two Japanese bears, presented to 
the gardens by Mr. Justice Chubb, have thriven in their new quarters in a remarkable 
way, and have been u source of great interest to visitors, especially to the young. At 
the same time the increasing number of birds and animals has proved a greater tax 
upon our slender resources in the matter of food and attendance than would be 
readily imagined. 
The necessity for cheap and permanent labels being attached to the trees and 
plants here is obvious, and hee only been met within recent years to any considerable 
extent. I have invented a plain and practically imperishable label, together with a 
simple device for stamping it, and during the past year about 1,000 trees and shrubs 
have been permanently and plainly labelled with their scientific and common names, 
natural orders, and native countries. A list of these lies befere me, but in the present 
state of the public finances, 1 do not ask that it be published ; indeed, I have put 
little faith in the “educational value” of lists of Latin names and technical terms. 
T have had some experience, but have never known anyone to be ** educated ”’ by them, 
although I have known many to be discouraged. 
I have laid before the Minister for Public Instruction, through your Depart- 
ment, a scheme for the encouragement of Nature Knowledge Study in the State 
schools, a subject in which, as you know, J have had much experience, and which my 
horticultural classes in the Gardens served to introduce into the Queensland schools. 
I wished to inexpensively organise such study. The matter met with much sympathy 
from both Departments, but it seems to be felt that this is hardly an opportune time 
for new departures; at least, the subject seems to be at rest for the present. 
Since my scheme was laid before you, Victoria, upon the advice of the new 
Director of Public Instruction, has adopted the system, and anyone who has watched 
the remarkable progress of this phase of industrial education in other lands during the 
past few years cannot doubt that in the race for agricultural and commercial 
supremacy between Victoria and, say, Queensland, the former State will find this 
natural and inexpensive system of industrial education an immense help. 
A constant correspondence has been maintained with kindred establishments, and 
large numbers of seeds introduced, raised and prepared for distribution. A copy, of 
my Seed Register might prove interesting to a few persons | engaged in similar 
pursuits, but L see no justification for swelling this report by its inclusion here. : 
I should like to be permitted to mention the ey interest which is taken by His 
Excellency the Governor and Lady Chermside in the Gardens, and in horticulture 
generally. His Excellency takes an especial interest in forestry, In which, as an 
extensive planter and wide traveller, he has had a large experience, and I have been 
much encouraged by the interest he has shown in my work. 
PHILIP MAC MAHON, Director. 
REPORT OF THE MANAGER OF THE STATE NURSERY, 
KAMERUNGA. 
Owing to the distance from Brisbane, and the comparatively early date at which 
the report has to be written to arrive at the head office in good time, this seasons 
report virtually only covers eleven months’ work—i.e., from 1st July, 1901, to 31st 
May, 1902. 
Tithe weather during the past year has been unseasonable. The drought has 
not, however, affected the immediate locality severely, nor have plants suffered, or 
has work been hindered to any extent. The rainfall for 11 months totalled 48°772, 
which is but little over half last season's fall. Some rain, however, fell every month. 
Of the total nearly 25 inches fell in February and March, the average being roughly 
23 inches for each of the other months. No very cold weather has been er Kenen ee 
at the Nursery during the year, the lowest record being 39 Fahr., on the 30th o 
