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REPORT OF THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BOTANIST. 195
In the horticultural division of the establishment, the shelter accom-
modation for tender or young plants has been extended so much, that
now the whole space under cover, either by glass or calico or brusli
shades, exceeds half an acre. Many rare plants, often new to Australian
cultivation, flowered or bore fruit for the first time. To show how
the riches of the establishment are thus yearly increasing and may ex-
tensively be diffused, I may instance that the first Flame-tree, in pro-
ducing frnit last year, gave the means of raising nearly one thousand
seedlings. The Grevillea avenues commenced flowei'ing this season,
and it may be imagined what' a brilliant effect the long lines of this
tree will produce in years to come.
The conservatories bave been rendered lately still more gay by new
access to the silvery and banded Assam Begonias, the variedly spotted
Caladiums of Central America, and various Gesneriaceous and many
other gorgeous plants ; while arrangements are made to add to the
collection Dionsea, the Sarracenias of North America, Biophytum, and
other plants, remarkable for spontaneous movement or extraordinary
structure. The Great Central American Water-lily . bearing the name
of her Majesty is now flowering through the third year ; but the nar-
row, inexpensive house, allotted as well to this noble plant and other
tropical aquatics as to the equiuoctial Orchldece, stands much in need
of extension. To the plants in the general garden ground additions
have steadily been made, so mucli so, that now a fair rearrangement
can be efi'ected in many places, to represent on separate plots the cha-
racteristic vegetation of the great divisions of the globe in a very in-
structive manner. During the extraordinary dryness of this summer
miles of edgings became quite parched, and will require renewal in the
autumn, for which purpose the less perishable Mesembryanthemum will
be chosen. Porcelain labels, with unobliterable letters, have been
ordered as a commencement of naming the plants in a more lasting
and sightlv manner. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, during: his
stay last year, condescended to plant on one of the lawns, in remem-
brance of his visit, the Patagonian Saxono-Gothaa conspicua and the
Califoruiau P'ums Alberti, trees Avhich commemorate the name of his
illustrious and lamented parent.
A great boon has been conferred on the Garden by the Government,
in sanctioning the establishment of steam-works for forcing Yarra water
to the highest rise, 110 feet, whence some irrigation is now eft'ected