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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 175. 58.02.15b

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Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1858-02-15 [58.02.15b]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/58-02-15b>, accessed November 14, 2024

Melbourne bot. Garden,
15. Febr. 1858.
Dear Sir William.
It is with extreme gratification, that I can announce to you the safe arrival of the magnificent collection of plants & seeds, which we owe to your kindness, and which was forwarded by the "Norfolk" under the aid of Mr Bell
1
On his return from Melbourne in 1857, Edward Bell asked William Hooker 'if you can give the Melbourne Museum any thing in exchange for their Botanical specimens' (Bell to Hooker, 8 October 1857) and discussed the arrangements for sending the consignment via Norfolk in Bell to Hooker, 30 October 1857 (RBG Kew, Director's letters, vol. LXXVI, Australia letters 1851-8, letter numbers 19 and 20).
I can without exaggeration state in my next report on the progress of this establishment, that it is by far the finest collection, which ever reached us.
2
See M to W. Haines, 1 March 1858.
On 24 November 1857, three Wardian Cases were transmitted to Melbourne from Kew. The list indicates that 88 species were sent (RBG Kew, Archives, outwards books 1848-59, p. 345; square brackets enclose spellings used in IPNI where these differ from names in the list, or are uncertain readings guided by IPNI):
'Dr Mueller | Novr. 24th Melbourne | Three Ward cases | Nos 2. 3 & [9]
Podocarpus japonica | Berberis fortunei | Euonymus americanus | Rhododendron lancifolium | Olea fragrans | Ceanothus rigidus | Abroma augusta | Ixora coccinea | Quercus spicata | Taxodium sempervirens | Brachyglottis repanda | Juniperus Bermudiensis [bermudiana] | Brachysema latifolia [latifolium] | Juglans regia | Saxe Gotha conspicua [Saxegothaea] | Templetonia glauca | Berberris Wallichiana [Berberis] | Rhododendron ciliatum | Arbutus unedo | Eriobotrya japonica | Raphiolepis salicifolia | Ceanothus papilosus [papillosus] | Artabotrys odoratissima [..issimus] | Melia azaderachta [azadirachta] | Cassonia thyrsiflora [Cassia] | Berberris concinna [Berberis coccinea] | Clerodendron macrophylla […um] | Edwardsia microphylla | Achras sapota | Elaeagnus latifolia | Guaycum officinalis [Guaiacum officinale] | Cannella alba [Canella alba] | Anagyris foetida | Wellingtonia gigantea | Azara integrifolia | Lonicera flexuosa | Eugenea [Is]gnii [jugalis?] | Stiftia chrysantha [Stifftia] | Bubon galbar[musen] [galbanum] | Andropogon schoenanthus | Escallonia macrantha | Viburnum odoratissima | Juglans alba | Ilex Balerica [balearica] | Spirea [salic]ifolia | Coraea magnifica [Corraea] | Olea [eur]opaea | Escallonia montevidensis | Celastrus […] | Ilex latifolia | Gynerium argenteum | Ceanothus azureus | Illicium floridanum | Berberis Darwini [darwinii] | Boehmeria nivea | Schol[l]ia grandiflora | Ilex Paraguensis var. angustifolia | Andromeda coriacea | Deutzia gracilis | Myrtus myrsinoides | Illicium religiosum | Myrica serrata | Daphne mezerion [mezerium] | Tecoma v[elutina] | Sarcococca coriacea | [Maytenus pendulina] | [Linum] trigisuum [trigynum?] | Andromeda auxillaris [axillaris] | Quercus rubra | Sideroxylon Mite | Trachycaryon Klotschii [klotzschii] | Lonicera odoratissima | Coriaria Nepalensis | Kniphosia uvaria [Kniphofia] | Andromeda acuminata | Jasminum heterophyllum | Veronica la[van]dulaceae [lavaudiana?] | Liriodendron tulipifera | Vitex littoralis | Aristolochia sipho | Araucaria imbricata | Picea pindrow | Smilax rotundifolia | Bosea yervamora | Diospyros virginica [virginiana] | Euonymus japonicus variegata | Quercus alba | Juglans tomentosa
88 plants sent.'
The seeds had suffered partially by mill dew, the fleshy kinds perhaps not very dry at the time of despatch, but the greater part seems to be uninjured and will be sown with exception of the annuals immediately under the frames, which I had made for the purpose. The case of plants which contained those treasures, which were packed in moss without soil arrived in very good condition and will be a grand acquisition for our open flowerbeds. I superintended to day the potting myself, and found only the following destroyed:
Santolina chamaecyparissus

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,
Spartium multiflorum

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Ribes lacustris

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,
Viburnum oxycoccus

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Viburnum cotinifolium

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,
Rosa Brunoniana

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,
Aralia spinosa

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,
Crataegus crenulata

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,
Cistus laurifolia

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. Either the plants got somewhat wet on the voyage or they were packed a little too wet, otherwise these would also have survived the comparitively short passage. Some of the plants in the Wardian Cases are magnificent and few are dead. I was particularly delighted about Saxo-Gothaea. Your cases have suffered in no way, and will be returned to you as soon as such plants are established, as will be worthy of your acceptance. Meanwhile three of my own Wardian Cases will have reached you, the last by the "Roxburgh castle" through Mr Duncan,
3
Duncan was a former Kew Gardener; see M to W. Hooker, 9 January 1858 (in this edition as 58-01-09a).
who conveyes also some trifling other things, a large box with seeds for your and other gardens being likewise on board of the vessel, and if I hear that these had given satisfaction I shall be delighted. — I took the great liberty of sending all the collections of seeds which I was able to get ready so early in the season for British gardens to your friendly care, and trust you will pardon me for trespassing so much, praying at the same time for your kind information, as to whom in future these collections of seeds (which will soon vastly increase if equivalents are given) could be directed: Mr Duncan was obliging enough to promise to act for us as agent, but I would not wish without your permission to accept of his kindness. He packed the cases for Kew himself, so that I trust all will be novelty, what I have send. Great aid for avoiding the transmission of what you may already possess would be a new edition of Hortus Kewensis
4
The original edition of Hortus Kewensis was prepared by William Aiton in 1789, with a second edition in 1810-13 by his son and successor as Superintendent of the Royal Gardens at Kew, William Aiton.
or an alphabethic index of the Kew plants. Now I have supplemented already the seed-collections of this year and beg to send in charge of Mr Britten
5
Bashley Britten delivered the seeds to Kew in April 1858, acompanied by a note:
'Mr Bashley Britten Presents his Compliments to Sir William Hooker and begs to forward to him herewith a packet of seeds entrusted to him by Dr. Mueller of Melbourne. Mr Britten will feel obliged by an acknowledgement of their arrival. These seeds were gathered in January last and are therefore quite fresh. | Sydenham Hill | April 14. 1858.' (RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 32).
97 species of Moreton Bay seeds, several of them quite new. This reminds me of our possessing in Australia a true species of
Rhus

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!, remarkable for its elegant red panicles. I send the diagnosis.
6
Presumably
Rhus

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rhodanthemum (B58.04.01, p. 43).
Pardon me, dear sir William, that no more Msc of N. Austr. plants arrived this time, but as the Winter approaches I shall have more leisure for house-work.
I performed a little trip to a creek in the Western-port district, which is not yet mapped, but found only a new Phebalium, allied to P. truncatum
7
M did not describe any new Phebalium species after 1855. See APNI.
&
Boronia Gunnii

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. The journey to Mount Baw Baw has been postponed til next month, on account of the autumn show of the Horticultural Society, soon to be held.
I see Dr Harvey's diligent hand has been at work to contribute seeds, altho only by recognising his handwriting. His and your expected letters have not yet, arrived, as unfortunately the mail again not arrived in proper time to answer by this mail-vessel. I have therefore little to add, but my hearty wishes for your own welfare and that of our mutual friends.
Humbly yours
Ferd. Mueller
P.S. To my report will be appended a complete index of all of the plants, our garden possess up to the time. I have to issue it in August.
8
M sought permission to delay the preparation of the index in M to J. O'Shanassy, 10 August 1858. The catalogue was included in M's Annual Report, tabled in the Victorian Legislative Assembly on 3 November 1858. See B58.11.02, pp. 15-27.
Not knowing Mr Bell's address, I beg to send my note of thanks to you.
9
Note not found.
I have sent some specimens by the Roxburgh Castle and more will follow.