Melbourne botanic Garden,
1 June 1862.
Sir
I have the honor of submitting to you a brief report on the work and proceedings in
this establishment during the month of May.
Some very fine trees, chiefly of deciduous foliage have been added to those planted
along the walk between the Lake and the Yarra. A commencement has been made for preparing
the ground for the reception of very many thousand rare pines, with which I am anxious
to adorn the brow of the Yarra between the Garden and the City bridge. The total effect
of large masses of Deodars,
s, Italian pines &c cannot be otherwise than grand, when once grown up and viewed
from the city, and we may thus anticipate, that hereby a most picturesque feature
will be introduced into the landscape.
A row of
has been planted from the museum building to the Experimental Ground, the plants
being of such size as likely to bear flowers next season. It is this species which
exhales such a delightful fragrance when in bloom and from which recently through
my department an excellent cosmetic was obtained by distillation.
We proceeded with the planting of a double line of elms along the drive leading from
the City bridge across the rise in the reserve to the botanic Garden.
A selection of the most ornamental Moreton Bay trees found a permanent place in the
central valley of the garden.
Considerable additions have been made to the Pinetum both in the Eastern and Western
part of the Garden, and with the removal of some of the native trees the noble forms
of the young
s, planted on the slope, fronting the lagoon, have come advantageously into view.
An avenue of Walnut trees is under formation in the Southern reserve, where I had
also planted a hedge of the evergreen South European Hawthorn.
The space in the forcing house having by the increase of plants become too narrow,
I had a range of glass-frames added to the side of the building and the hot water
pipes extended throughout this addition. The ordinary garden work of the season went
on as usual.
The interchange with kindred institutions continues. During the month living plants
arrived from Sydney, Adelaide, Launceston and Calcutta; seeds arrived in larger quantities
from Paris, Marseilles &c &c.
One hundred and one public institutions within the Colony of Victoria have been supplied
with plants and seeds during the month, the quantity of plants being 20,534, the seeds
5295 packages.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller.
The honorable the Chief Secretary
&c &c &c
