Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS written by E. Heyne and signed by M.

Melbourne botan. & zoolog. Garden

2 September 1861.

Sir

I have the honor of transmitting to you a short outline of the proceedings in this establishment during the past month.

The digging of the whole borders is almost completed and the garden has thereby assumed an excellent appearance, enchanced by florishing spring-vegetation.

55 additional labels are written, a short line of elms is planted across the reserve.

Some Glassframes for the propagation of plants were constructed. The line of palings, which separated the class ground from the experimental Garden has been removed and thereby a great improvement is effected in the view from these parts of the garden. Many plants of rarity previously not introduced into this colony were recently raised at the nurseries. Altho' so late in the season we have still been able to supply several public institutions with plants; the interchange with british and foreign institutions also continues almost uninterruptely. We acquire thus for our herbarium some fine collections of Brazil, and Russian plants from Petersburgh and Abyssinia, North American plants from London, Indian plants from Kew, Abyssinian plants from Esslingen. Several cases with living plants arrived from various localities, others were transmitted from here. Excellent pine seeds arrived from San Francisco. Much labour has been withdrawn during the month from our garden by the prearrangements of transferring the majority of the animals kept in this establishment to the Royal park, and all the female Llamas, all the Angora Goats and all the Chinese Sheep, of which 10 were introduced during the month, are already located at the park.

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The Management Committee had decided, almost a year earlier, that the zoo that had for several years had been located in the Botanic Garden should be moved to a new site that had been allocated in Royal Park, on the other side of town, once the necessary accommodation for the animals could be built.

Beyond the establishment considerable attition

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attention?

was also required for preparations for the forthcoming exhibition.

Several oils are distilled from material furnished from here.

The collecting of a considerable variety of timber specimens was directed and some aid has also been given to the Gentlemen, who are entrusted in New South Wales & Queensland with illustrating the timber resources of those parts of Australia, in determining the species with botanical precision.

The work on the new drive from the City bridge through the Domain to the botanic Garden has also received due superintendence. The rotunda in the Domain is with the exception of the iron seats now completed.

Always anxious to promote general cultivation of plants, which hold out a hope of being useful to this country, I distributed many Mulberry cuttings and much Cotton seeds during the month.

In the coming month I shall be able to distribute a quantity of seeds of select varieties of Tobacco.

The Carpentaria expedition, in which a botanical Collector embarked,

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The relief expedition under William Landsborough that was carried to the mouth of the Albert River in the Gulf of Carpentaria by the Victorian Navy's flagship, Victoria, to search for the exploring party under Robert O'Hara Burke that was by this time well overdue. M arranged for Diedrich Henne to accompany the expedition as botanical collector.

was furnished with a supply of seeds of such plants, as may prove at once useful to the travellers or as are likely to add to the scanty material resources of the northern coast.

The flora of Victoria

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B62.02.01.

is progressing as far as other avocations admit.

The Llama flock increased by four during the month; the young animals, being offsprings of the pure Alpaca, introduced from New South Wales, show a marked improvement of the fleece.

Nearly all remaining trushes and black birds were liberated, instead of which our aviary received an access of more linnets and larks, of which at least the former are readily breeding in confinement. By the "Roxburgh Castle" an opportunity was aforded to send a few Native Companions

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i.e. brolgas.

to the Society d'acclimatation of France, from which Society we may early expect the transmission of some Zebras.

The Honorable the Chief Secretary

&c &c &c

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File annotation by Heales, 9 September 1861: 'Read'.