Glasgow Courier. — 1861-04-25 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ACTLIMATINATION—INTRODUOTION OF TREES AND BIRDN INTO AUsTNALIA.—During the past year the bread-fruit tree, from the Fiji islands, the beautiful lace-plant of Madagascar, the Canadian blackberry, and several rare species of pines, have been introduced into the gardens, and are in thriving state. Sir Hercules Robinson.- Governor of Hongkong, has forwarded a large quantity of tea seeds, and the re. port augurs not unfavourably of their future cultivation and utility. Plentiful experiments have been made in the respective value of trees, either deciduous or evergreen, eligible for avenues, among which the oriental plane, as pointed out by Mr Edward Wilson, will probably prove one of the most suitable of the deciduous class. Horse-chestnuts and walnuts have hitherto proved failures. About three acres of ground have been set apart as a special experimental garden. Here a variety of carefully-named fruit trees, of dye, medieinal, and fibrous plants, vines, grasses, forage plants, &c., will be subjected to experiments. A principal feature in the gardens is the natural. class ground, where the principal hardy represents. tives of the natural orders of plants are concentrated in systematic order. Specimens of the sassafras bark from the fern tree gullies have been forwarded to Baron Liebig and Dr Wittstein for chemical analysis, and it is expected the article, which possesses valuable tonic properties, !rill become a remunerative export. The zoological department of the gardens has exhibi• ted a steady progress during the year. The llamas, which were nineteen in number when received less than two years ago, are now increased to thirty-se. ven, and the breed has been vastly improved by the introduction of a pure male alpaca. Two highly valuable alpacas have been received from the New South Wales Government, and the Victorian Government has fovonrably considered a proposition by Mr Charles Ledger, to secure victunas and pure female alpacas from South America. Arrangements have been made for obtaining Cashmere goats and Chinese sheep, and also a selection of South African game. The introduction of the North American beaver has not been overlooked, and an application on the subject hm been made to the American Government. A number of gold and silver pheasants, eurassows, ortolans,and many varieties of waterfowl, have safely arrived and are doing well. Some little difficulty has arisen from a tendency exhibited by the native waterfowl to destroy the eggs of some of the imported varieties, but means have been taken to ensure the safety of the eggs by removing them as soon as laid, and placing them under common bens, and much damage is not anticipated. 1, he Menagerie now boasts of several monkeys, a erea jackal, and other animals strangers in these latitudes. Varieties of fowls, doves, and water-birds, hares, and a remarkable species of rabbit, have been promised by the authorities of the Zoological Gardens at Cologne, in exchange for black swans and other Australian productions. A brick reservoir, supplied with fresh-flowing river water, now contains several tench, dace, and minnows, forwarded by Mr Wilson, none of which have yet been seen dead. The attempts to introduce the guaramier from the Mauritins have failed, but are being renewed, with improved methods of transmission. The introduction of the ova of the salmon has also failed hitherto, but the Zoological Committee are likely to repeat the experiment during the northern winter of 1861-2. Considerable losses have been sustained amongst the singing birds yecially on the Voyage, but the birds have been liberated with success in various localities, and have reared broods. A hlackbinl is now engaged in building its nest in the Botanic Gardens The larks thrushes, and starlinge had previously done PO, aria the result, in the ease of the blackbird, is expected with interent. The English pheasant' have bred the ;:ardens, and there seems to be little doubt that they will be rmahly acobmatised.-Mei/POWs( ArriS,  It is said Garibaldi purposes visiting England. A black carpet-bag, containing the decotnp_ord body of an infant, was recently found at the Wolverhampton station in a railway carriage. The bag. was directed to Dublin. During a friendly wrestling match at Birmingham, betwean Robert White and William Webb,. the former received injuries which occasioned his death. Webb was so affected that he was taken with epileptic fits and died. Wiffiani Williams was executed at Brecon on Tuesday morning for the murder of his aunt at Fal• garth. ' A number of Spanish officers have arrived in England to look after a considersble purchase of rifled guns made by the Government of Spain. —Court Journal. The ironwork for the Exhibition of /862 has been given to Mr Barrow, of Stavely, Derby. The contract is for OA 000. Sir John Bowring is seriously indisposed at Rome, whore he and hi.; wife have been residing since about a month after their marriage in Bristol. St