THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 915, 25 November 1864, Page 5

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

Very nearly as much has now been done towards the formation of the Botanic il Gardens, as can be done until the Provincial Council next meets and votes more money i"or the purpose. The original reserve comprised bavnly nine acres, and included only a very small strip on the town side of the Water of Lcitb ; but Mr Begs; the curator, pointed out that the little stream could not be improved, or be made, as it should be, an ornamental addition to the G miens, unless the plot between the stream and Albany street, was added, and that this plot was absolutely necessary, if a collection of specimen plants and flowers wa- to be formed. This plot, nearly two acres and a half in extent, belong'd to the Grovertmipnt, bnt had been laid off in sections for sale. The advantage of adding it to tWe Gtrdens was, howevsr. so obvious, lhat the transfer was arranged, chiefly by the present Superintendent. This 2.J-aere plot, it will b remembered by many, was a very rough bit of grass land, when the Sup Tintsiident planted two i) memorial oaks, on the 30th June, 1863. the day on which Ot^.go celebrated th<> marriage of His Royal Highne>s the Prince of Wales and the Princes* Alexandra. Mipr Ricbnnlson stated during the la*t session of tin Provincial Council, when the question was of voting money for tha Gardens, that he had been informed that one of the «aks ''planted at so great an expense, hid " indignantly died" We are happy to know that the honorable and gallant member was misinformed—both onks are growing vigoroulv, and appear likely long to fl jurish. The whole of the 2j-ncre plit has now bpen Welled and laid out in beds —not completely, for, before the geometrical plots for the specimen p'ants are formed, it is neeessa'-y that there -hould le a aooil firm turt, and the further layi ig out of the plot will, therefor", be w irk for the autumn. 4. broad belt'has been formed on thive silesof the plot, the stf am forming the fourth ; and the belt has been lanted. Next th • fencing there is si row of blue and red gums, which are the quickest growing trees kno^u. The youDg trees, which wero rai>eil in the small garden adjoining the curator's residence, lnve grown -everal inches during the six or eight weeks since they wre transplanted j and by the upw year, in all probability if th-re is a fair rainfall, they wiil be as high as the fence and afford g<iol shelter. Inside the gums, there is a i.nv of native trees, including some of the finest varieties of pine and cedar, together with the b >y. the Portugal la'ire', an'i th^ laurestinus, &<\ This will be the permanent outer border, and an the tree3 grow and require room, the gunn, having lli on served their purpns», will be removed. The inner edge of the belt is planted with specimens of the sweet William, antirrhinum, scarlet geranium, verbena, hollyhock, dahlia, &c ; and these will be brightly in bloom in two months or less. Around each of the memorial oaks, there is formed a circular bfd, over 40 ft in diometer. and these beds are p'antfd '• ribj.nd-fiistiion," with lings of Sp-Tticeia palifcra (pul in as an experiment, but which at home is now a frequent and very beautiful subTOBACCO.—AND AT

stu. te for »rasf, on lawns and terrace-., mm to o lyings), s"arli t geranium, Lineurn erand Bin (oneof the fl ix tribe), and ftpmophylla; insigi.is which hears a profusion of pretty blue fl.iwets All the main walks in 'his plot are formed and thickly f-overed with gravel from Ptlich»t ay; but around th» two circular beds, tome very fine and bright co'oure'l gravel, from Portobcl'o, will be spread, as a sample of what can be procund here for finish ng ginieu walks. long the liue of the stream, there will, as sonn ns possible, be planted, weeping wllow* and aiiproDi-iste sh üb= ; and the sir.-..m will be imr/r v;d bv clearing th' larger stones from the bnd, and u-ing thpm to form a weir or weirs, so as to fpcure a depth of water sufficient lor a few swans to be nl'ic-d upon it. A. light wire .suspension bridg-? scr S3 the s'ream is one uf tl.e things to be seen '"on plan," and it is to be hoped hat the bridge will be constructed by next s. ring The river wall appears an excellent bit of work ; and its construction has enabled a tolerable a Idition to be made to the ground. As the plot t ■ which wh have been referi ina now is, it, affords a p ace in whii-h a promenade may be had without inconvenience even immediately ufrer rnin ; ami, as we have sai I, p irts of it will soon be gay with flowers or green with young trees. eteats are to lie placed at different points.

The path from this plot proper, along Ihe stream to tLe point where the old wooden bridge stands, has been very nearly formed : and the blue and red uums *re already i i the ground throughout its length. Crossing the bridge opposite the entrance f oin Castle street (inlineriUtely fronting Cni»n street), a bend in the stream leaves a small piece of ground, which' will be reserved for the curator's house and nursery earden, for which it is admirably situated. Once over the hridue, as moss of our Duneilia readers know, the visitor enters a pleasant bit of the bush—so pleasant that a regret is forced, that Die reserve was not extended across Le'th street to the continuation of the bush there. In the part which is within the reserve, the old path, and some new ones which have heen opened, will be slightly trimmed aDd gravelled, and a few seats will be fitted in appropriate nooks, and, at different points a few laburnums, or hollyhocks, or something else calculated to form a g->od contrast to the bush, will b3 planted. Nearly at the centre of this point, there stands a tall blnck pine, up to which converging paths have been cut, and around which a circular seat will be placed. The felled trees will supply the wood for all the seats There are funds enough left for the work named; but the formation of paths up the hillock or any planting or improvement of it, cannot be commenced until the Council has provided more funrts. At two points, it is proposed to cut zigzag walks uo the side of the hillock ; to erect a summerhouse about the centre, aud to have paths thi-nce to the brow overlooking the stream, where rock work sheltered seats will be placed. The views from this billosk a e fine, and the spot is already fr quently resorted to by la ;ies and children, despite the_ want of proper approaches. The wire suspension bridge before mentioned wi'l cro^s the s'ream to the foot of the hi'lock, at the point at which ic is proposed to form one of the zigzur walks In the garden and the f > ames of the curator, there is n larga number of various flowering plants, shrubs, and young trees, ready for planting out or neirly so; and there, also, stands a thick row of blue and red gums with which a border was to have heen planted at the Recreation Ground, but. which will have to be nulled up. seein r that they would be too far alvancel for the purpose by next season. This is a result of want of funds; but a fresh collection cin be got ready before next season, when it is to be hoped that, the pecuniary difficulty will not stmil in the way of a commence uent of the planting ot the Kecreation Grr.m d. There is one bed in Mr Bang's garden, to whinh w* think very peculiar interest attaches Just peeping above the ground mny be seen faint lines of green which we were told came from the seeds of British forest trees. The Gnvernrapnt some time since ordered a collection of such seeds, which should include the best varieties ; they were put into the ground wthin two mouths, and alrea-ly all that h.ive had time for so much growth have sent up tiny shools. By next Spring, all will be fit for transplanting; and it is the intention of the Government that a small c>llec:ion sha'l be given to any settler, or other possessor cf suitable ground in the Province who chooses to make application. By this means, the natural beauty of the Province will he greatly enhanced ere maoy years have past, and a work of the greatest utility will have heen e-isily and cheaply accomplished The GroV'rnrnriiit deserves thanks and praise for what they have done —and nonetheless, becu-se, in doi g it, they have followed the example set in Victoria four or five years ago.