334
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Fern Shed.
A structure about 50 feet long with bamboo screen roof, and wooden tables has been erected fr the cultivation of ferns and shade plants for sale.
Seed Shed.
For some years a very perishable matshed has been used for the protection from rain, excessive sun-light, and ants, of delicate newly sown seeds. This shed has been replaced with a more per Janent structure built of hard-wood, with one side of the ridge-roof glazed. Attacks on the seeds by ants have been circumvented by having the pedestals which support the tables resting in small masonry tanks for holding water.
Potting, Carpenters, and Soil Sheds.
All of these have been re-constructed with leaf matting and bamboos during the year. Means have never been available for them to be made of anything more substantial than bamboos and matting. These structures ought to be all made of substantial brickwork with tiled roofs as soon as sufficient money can be spared.
Rockeries.
The improvements at the North-East entrance gates which were recommended in 1886 have been carried out so far as the construction of the rockeries is concerned, and the planting of them is now being proceeded with,
Labelling of Plants.
A large number of new labels have been lettered and put down, besides many of the old ones having been renewed. I hope that the present year will see all the plants in the Gardens efficiently labelled. If funds were available for the purpose it would be more economical to label the plants with indestructible terra-cotta labels having the names enamelled and burnt in, in place of the perish- able wooden labels at present in use.
Lawns.
The grass in many places, especially where it has been so much injured by the crowds of people who attended the Al Fresco Fêtes which have been held in the Gardens during the last two years, las become very
thin. The lawns urgently need surface dressings of enriching composts, but the mainte nance vote is insufficient to admit of this being done.
Flower Beds.
The soil in these needs changing, and the whole design of the arrangements of beds and walks on In these con the lower terrace would be better altered, when great improvements could be effected. templated improvements I should like to effectually work in a fit erection for the accommodation of the Regimental Band at its weekly perforinances, instead of the unsuitable existing arrangements.
Aviaries.
The old structures in the northern part of the New Garden, which had become thoroughly dila pidated, and which were not very suitable for aviaries, have been demolished, and a new aviary in four divisions has been constructed near the bear house in the southern part of the Old Garden. The aviary faces the sun and has its back to the north, thus affording shelter to the occupants of the aviary from the cold winds of the dry season and the violent storms of the rainy one.
Al Fresco Fête.
have
Whatever good may be said for the objects of the Fête, and they were most worthy, which was held in the Gardens in November, it is generally admitted that the handing over of the Gardens to Committees who bave little or no interest in the Gardens themselves, or at least very little interesti compared with their great object in endeavouring to make the entertainments financial successes, a most injurious effect on the Gardens. Although greater precautions were taken on the occasion of the last Fête to provide against injury to the Gardens, still a large amount of damage was inflicted besides having the order and beauty of the Gardens upset for a considerable time before, and a very long time after the Fête.
Musical Performances.
By the kindness of the Colonel and Officers of the 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment visitors the Gardens have been entertained with the performances of the Band in the Gardens once a week The Band, as alluded throughout the year, with a few exceptions owing to weather and other causes. to already, is in need of an appropriate Band Stand which should be a structure of a characteri harmony with the Gardens. The Band Stand in the Gardens, which was generously presented by the Parsee community in 1866 has not been used for some years on account of its situation being unsuit able for music to be heard from it to the terraces below where visitors congregate and promenade;" is also too small to accommodate the number of men of which the band consists.
Sale of Plants.
The total number of plants sold was 1,267; they realised $365.41. In 1886 the plants which were sold realised $409.35, and the number sold was 1,918.
As the plants in the Gardens are now labelled to a sufficient extent to enable visitors to ascertain the name of any tree, shrub, or plant which is cultivated in the Gardens, I would take this opportunity of advising would-be purchasers to make their choice of plants from an inspection of the larger speci- mens throughout the Gardens which show better what purposes the plants are suitable for than the small specimens kept in stock for sale in the nursery, to which the public generally confine their
Statue.
attention.
I regret to have to chronicle the loss of shrubs and trees of great beauty which had taken 20 years of fostering care to bring them to the condition they were in before their destruction in order to provide a site-which had been selected two or three years ago-for the erection of the statue which was placed in the Gardens towards the close of the year. The Gardens have not been benefited by the change which was made in them, nor yet does it appear that the statue itself has obtained a posi tion which is the best that could have been desired for the exhibition of such a fine and costly work of art. In view of these disadvantages it is to be hoped that the removal of the statue may receive some consideration when the day arrives for it.
I might here submit that the interests of the Gardens should have a strong claim to be repre- sented by special professional judgment when the introduction of foreign objects is contemplated. The site for the statue was selected by a body of gentlemen and approved by the Government without the knowledge of, or any reference for an opinion from, the Superintendent of the Gardens.
Teff (Eragrostis Abyssinica.)
This is a cereal indigenous to Abyssinia. It produces small seeds from which is obtained an excellent flour that is extensively used in Abyssinia as an article of food. The Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, obtained from Abyssinia a quantity of seeds of it for distribution to Colonial and other gardens for experimental cultivation. This garden received some of the seeds; they were sown on March 10th, and germinated well, and the seedlings grew rapidly and ripened their seeds in the middle of July, that is, only four months elapsed from the sowing of the seeds to the harvesting of the crop; the yield was abundant. Seeds were distributed amongst native agriculturists and information on the nature of the cereal was given to them, but the recipients of the seeds do not seem to have done thing with them so far as I have been able to learn."
any-
DISTRIBUTION AND INTERCHANGE OF PLANTS And seeds. Exchanges have been conducted as far as circumstances permitted. Two hundred and seventy- six packets and parcels of seeds, weighing fifty pounds, and one thousand four hundred and twenty- nine plants were received. One hundred and twenty-two packets and parcels of seeds, weighing seventy pounds, and one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven plants were distributed.
The following are the lists of recipients and donors of plants and seeds :—
Anderson, Colonel. Apcar, A. P. Armstrong, J. M. Bell-Irving, Mrs.
Recipients.
Botanic Gardens, Adelaide.
Bombay. Mauritius. Melbourne.
23
12
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57
13
Natal.
31
"
Port Darwin.
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12
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Queensland.
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11
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Saharanpur, India. Saigon.
Singapore.
31
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31
Tasmania.
Townsville.
Botanical Department, Jamaica.
Burghignoli, Very Rev. Father. Cook, Mrs. Creagh, C. V.
Darby, W. F.
Fisher, Dr.
Forest Department, Penang.
French Convent.
Grant, J.
Gardener, Captain.
Government Civil Hospital. Grossmann, C. F.
Henry, Rev. B. C., Canton.
Humphreys, J. D.
Italian Convent.
Ladies' Recreation Club.
Police Stations.
Queensland Acclimatisation Society, Brisbane. Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta.
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21
37
$1
Schultz, Captain, Perak.
Ceylon.
Kew, London.
Stone-Cutters' Island Powder Depôt. Veitch & Sons, Messrs. J., London. Vaucher, A. E.