Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS written by Carl Wilhelmi and signed by M.

Melbourne botanic & zoological Garden

4 October 1860.

Sir

I have the honor of submitting to you the report on the work in this establishment during the last month. The Gardenwalks have been cleared up, the edgings trimmed and weeded and general attendance been given to the general Ground and the lawns have been mown. Thus the whole gardens have assumed under the favor of the season a most charming appearance and a great variety of flowers sparkle the green garment of the Spring vegetation. The trees with deciduous foliage show themselfes now at the greatest advantage. The experimental division has been laid out and stacked

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staked?

and fine gravelled walks have been formed to intersect it. A brush shade for the protection of tender plants has been constructed in the nursery. Many rare plants are this season for the first time producing their flowers. A considerable number of labels have been painted.

The ornithological portion of the menagerie promises to do well this season. The white swans, Cape Barren Geese, English pheasants, silver pheasants, trushes, black birds Java Sparrows and Canaries are nesting. 1 Angora goat and 1 spotted deer were born during the month.

All animals enjoyed good health. 2 Wombats and several smaller animals have been added to the collection. Some Larks, trushes blackbirds are liberated in the Gardens. The former are building and seemingly also the latter.

The fittings of the Museum as far as under Contract are completed.

The greater part of the month was by myself devoted to a phytological examination of the S. E. frontiers of the colony, when the material of the flora of Victoria became vastly enriched. About 300 miles of country were traversed and the subalpine mountains at the sources of the Genoa River ascended. Many plants entirely new to science were discovered amongst them a

Panax

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• This website
• Australian Plant Name Index

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Panax

Search for Panax in

• This website
• Australian Plant Name Index

murrayi (B60.11.03, p. 106).

of palmlike habit, forming one of the noblest productions of the flora of this country.

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See Albrecht (1996); M to W. Nicholson, 1 October 1860.

The herbarium became also from other regions augmented by contributions of scientific friends.

His Excellency the Governor of Queensland permitted our collector

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Eugene Fitzalan.

to accompany the expedition sent out in search of the entrance of the Burdekin.

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Burdekin River, Qld. See B60.13.12.

Plants are also expected from Mr Stuart's gloriously successful expedition.

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John McDouall Stuart had recently returned to Adelaide after penetrating Central Australia as far north as Attack Creek (NT). M had already described the plants from Stuart’s previous expedition (see B60.06.01) and he descibed those from his later expeditions in B64.13.05.

Major Warburton is also likely to add to our botanical treasures during his new journey and likewise Mr Fr. Gregory is inclined to scrutinize the plants on his way from Sharks-Bay to termination Lake, where my own botanical examination in N. W. Australia ceased.

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No specific publications reported the results of these expeditions; plants were described as appropriate in parts of the Fragmenta phytographiae australiae. See, for example, Canthium lamprophyllum collected by F. Gregory in B61.02.02, p. 133; and Gossypium sturtiiii collected by Warburton in B62.04.01. p. 14.

The Honorable the Chief Secretary.

&c &c &c

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MS file annotation by J. Moore, 6 October 1860: 'Read'.