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63.04.15aPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to John O'Shanassy, 1863-04-15 [63.04.15a]. 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/63-04-15a>, accessed April 19, 2025
1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see B63.05.01.
Melbourne Botanic Garden,
15th April, 1863.
Sir,
I have the honor of submitting to you a succinct report on the progress of the labors in the Botanic Garden during the past year; and simultaneously I beg to offer
some brief remarks on the intended work of the coming season.
The extensive ground under cultivation absorbs already for its maintenance and improvements a proportion
of labor so large as to render measures for any considerable new access to the flower
borders undesirable, especially since hitherto no means for obtaining an adequate
supply of water are available. But, as new works of the past season, I may instance the extension of the Pineta, both in the eastern and western
part of the garden; the formation of the western lower main walk, edged with basalt
boulders along the base of the declivity above; the interplantation of elms in the
Eucalyptus avenue leading from the city bridge to the Botanic Garden, and the formation
of pineries in the latter locality, on the slopes along the Yarra. The latter plantation
was commenced last season, and is at present under progress of extension. The total
effect of masses of Deodoras, Wellingtonias, Italian firs, and of superior Californian
pines, which, with the quickly growing cluster pines, are mainly selected and reared
for this locality, cannot be otherwise than grand, when at a future period viewed
from the city; and we may anticipate that, by the display of these noble trees, a
most picturesque feature will be introduced into the metropolitan landscape. This
plantation will afford, after a series of years, also, the means of obtaining large
annual supplies of seeds of these pines for forest-culture.
An avenue, from the Richmond Park railway station to the foot-bridge of the Yarra,
is under process of formation. Another avenue of walnut trees is formed between the
office building and the Museum. A considerable variety of roses have been consociated
in the rear of the larger conservatory. Numerous trees, chiefly of deciduous foliage,
have been added to the evergreen ones which line the passage between the lake and
Yarra River. A number of select trees from the subtropical parts of Eastern Australia
have found a permanent place on the sheltered slopes of the middle part of the garden.
By the removal of some of the native trees, the noble forms of the now already conspicuous
Araucarias, planted on the slope fronting the western part of the lagoon, have come advantageously into view. To the variety of hedges, established with a desire
that visitors may be able to judge of their respective value, and amongst which the
Ceanothus-hedges are deserving of particular attention, one has been added of the
evergreen South European May, a highly ornamental bush, seemingly well adapted for
the purpose. A row of the shady West Australian Red Gum trees (Eucalyptus calophylla)
has been recently established along the Domain-road, a short avenue of the Abele poplar
is under formation.
The Superintendent of the Immigrants' Home, T. Harcourt,
Esq., has this year again materially aided in the improvements in the reserve, by
nearly completing, by labor from his establishment, a walk from the city bridge, along
the base of the Yarra ridges, to the Botanic Garden.
2
Typesetter's error for
J. Harcourt?
By labor and material, available at the garden, an exterior division has been added
to the forcing house. Some substantial shades have been erected in the nurseries,
roofed advantageously with densely perforated galvanized iron; and the extension of
the older propagating house in the central portion of the garden, together with the
application of an improved heating apparatus, is now under contract. Some arrangements
have been made to substitute box edgings in some parts of the garden for those of
the chamomile, since the latter are suffering so much from the summer drought, and
involve for being kept in neatness a great amount of labor.
The Mniarum, which forms in our highlands dense cushion-like patches of turf of low
growth, has been introduced into the garden with a view of testing its adaptability
for edgings.
Three hundred public institutions have been supplied for the ornamentation of their
ground with plants, seeds and cuttings from this establishment. An exact record of
these supplies is kept at the office of this garden,
alike in this and all former years of my administration, and new supplies are provided
for distribution during the current season.
3
Records not found.
On one hundred and twelve occasions supplies of flowers have been granted to public festivals, instituted
mainly for ecclesiastic, educational, or charitable purposes.
Four exhibitions of the Horticultural and Gardeners' Societies were held at the gardens
within this year.
During the coming season it is contemplated to devote the necessary means and labor
for carrying a line of water-pipes from the south-east point along the main ridge
of the garden to the rise beyond the western upper entrance, in anticipation of the
early extension of the Yan Yean aqueducts to the Domain-road, as contemplated by Government.
This measure will provide, it is hoped, during the next summer, a timely and adequate
supply of water for the principal part of the garden, although the further local distribution must remain a gradual work of
future years. When water becomes thus, by gravitation, copiously accessible, not only
a considerable amount of labor now expended in manual work for the conveyance of water
will be saved, but furthermore, irrigation may be applied to many of the arid parts
of the garden, and its beneficial effects may be demonstrated on our public ground
to great advantage, whilst fountains may be established to render our cheerful locality
still more attractive, and opportunities more favorable will arise for instituting
experiments on the growth and yield of plants calculated to be of utility to this
country. On this, amongst new works, and on the copious storage of surface water,
will, therefore, our energies be mainly concentrated during the coming season.
It is further intended to provide a number of bowers, some rockeries, grottoes, and
other ornamental work; also, copses for the shelter of water-birds on the north lagoon;
and the lake will probably be embellished with some floating islands to serve as places of retreat for the increasing variety of water-fowls, until at a subsequent period
permanent islands can be formed.
The tall Danubian reeds, New Zealand flax, willows, and other conspicuous plants,
need to be planted along the margin of the lagoon in the reserve towards the city
bridge.
The slope between the western walk along the lagoon, where the soil is better than
in most parts of the garden, is to be divided into about thirty experimental areas
for the reception of strictly useful plants requiring a sheltered position. Probably
it will be within our means to raise water for this new experimental ground from the
adjoining lagoon by a small windmill, such as at present provides a constant flow
of water for the fish-tanks of the garden. The areas may, for the sake of ornamentation,
be interspersed with such trees of deciduous foliage as need a place comparatively
secure against the blast of our hot winds.
Appropriate objects of experiments will be the various fibre plants, including the
hitherto little appreciated Lavatera arborea, the almost unknown Cyperus vaginatus,
and especially the Boehmeria nivea, which latter yields the Chinese grass-cloth or Rheea-fibre, and has since the invention
of Mr. T. Hill Dickson's patent process,
become of such high mercantile value, and is proved to grow here with the utmost luxuriance;
further, various kinds of olives, the hardier varieties of cotton, the Chinese tea,
rice, various fodder herbs, and a number of grasses. Amongst the latter the so-called
Californian prairie grass (Bromus unioloides of Humboldt) has far surpassed in its yield all other kinds hitherto experimented on in this garden; and as a perennial
species, of broad blade and of nutritive properties, prolific even in dry ground,
and capable of enduring the influence of our occasionally scorching summer heat, this grass is entitled to a general introduction on our pastures. The Cynodon
Dactylon or South European couch-grass, and the densely matted Hemitaphrum glabrum
or buffalo-grass appear by their rigid foliage to be well adapted for maintaining a verdure
on those parts of our lawns which are most frequently traversed by visitors. The latter
grass was obtained by the favor of Charles Moore, Esq., Director of the Botanic Garden
of Sydney.
4
i.e. James Hill Dickson.
5
Formal publication of the name has not been found (APNI, accessed 4 February 2021). M included the genus name in his list of 'Sand-coast-plants', but not in the main body of the work, in B76.12.04,
B80.13.07 and B81.01.04 (and in the two editions derived from the latter: B84.13.22 (USA) and B83.13.06 (German translation)), but not in subsequent editions. It was also used by Richard Schomburgk,
Report of Director of Adelaide Botanic Garden, 1869
(Adelaide, 1869), p. 3, and repeated in the review of that report in
Gartenflora, vol. 19 (1870), p. 187.
If half the experimental areas remain unirrigated, the effect of application of water
to each kind of culture plant experimented upon could be ascertained with precision.
Many of the plants intended for this ground had hitherto a temporary place in the experimental orchard, from whence, with the increase
of variety of vines and fruit trees, they require now to be removed.
The necessary number of plants of the Moreton Bay fig and of maples is set apart,
the former for lining a new walk from the Botanical Museum to the city bridge, the
latter tree for forming an additional avenue in the northern reserve.
Some walks, as well in the northern as southern reserve, remain to be completed; with
the final choice of these the opportunity will arise of submitting a perfect plan
of the garden for the guidance of visitors.
It is further deemed advisable to erect a special structure for the accommodation
of epiphytal orchids, and other plants needing a higher degree of humidity and heat
than can be applied to the general collections of plants in the conservatory. From
the latter, in the vicinity of which the new building is to be placed, the means of
heating the new structure may be derived with hardly any additional expenditure of
fuel.
It may not be inappropriate to record on this occasion that during the last International
Exhibition the commercial importance of many of the products and educts of Victorian
plants (principally secured by the direct or indirect instrumentality of this office)
has been fully recognised. It has led, for instance, to extensive orders for the volatile
oil of eucalyptus, for the distillation of which a factory on a large scale has recently
been erected by Joseph Bosisto, Esq., near Western Port. The gum-resins of eucalyptus and the bark of our native sassafras have also since become articles of mercantile export.
It has also been ascertained from specimens transmitted by A. Thozet of Rockhampton,
that the "bitter-bark" of New South Wales and Queensland, to which recently attention
has been drawn as a powerful tonic, is yielded by the Alstonia constricta, a tree
which occurs not only in the jungles but also in the Brigalow scrubs of the warmer parts of East Australia.
A chemical analysis of the bark has been furnished by Professor Dr. Wittstein, of
Munich.
For similar investigations into the properties of many of our vegetable products,
and other experiments, it would be needful, in the course of time, to construct a
small laboratory on our ground.
6
Palm (1863).
I further deem it of interest to remark, that the here so vigorously growing New Zealand
flax, which could be cultivated in swampy localities hardly available for any other
purposes, has realised in London sales as raw material £20 per ton, a price remunerative
for a more general cultivation of this useful fibre plant.
The following plants, of more general interest or utility, have well withstood the
influence of the sudden and lasting drought of the last season:—
The Argan tree (which flowered for the first time), Amyris terebinthifolia, the Dye
tree of Norfolk Island, the Paper Mulberry, the Red Cedar, the Carob tree, the Karaka,
Corypha Australis, the Dammar pines, the Bottle tree, the East Australian Sassafras, Ficus
macrophylla and F. syringifolia, the Manna ash, Flindersia Australis, Flindersia Oxleyana (one kind of yellow wood of Queensland), Hovenia dulcis, the Camphor tree, the Totara,
Prunus mahaleb, the Valonia oak, the Sumach, the Scotino, Rhamnus erythroxylon and Rhamnus infectorius,
the British bramble, which proves remarkably fruitful, Sophora Japonica, Strelitzia
Reginae.
7
R. infectoria?
The garden enjoyed again during the year the support of many liberal donors, whose
names are here subjoined.
LIST OF DONORS TO THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
8
Not all persons named in this and the other lis
t
below have been identified. Those for whom details have been found have entries in
the Biographical Register.
Allan, J., Warrnambool.
Alitt, W., Superintendent of the Portland Botanic Garden.
Anderson, Colonel, South Yarra.
Backhouse, Rev. Dr., Sandhurst.
Baggott,
G. D., Emerald Hill.
9
Error for Baggett?
Balfour,
Professor, Director of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden.
10
i.e. J. H. Balfour.
Bates, —, Sandridge.
Bathe, James.
Batson, W., Hernhill.
Beveridge, P., Murray River.
Birman, F., Jamieson's Diggings.
Black, Dr. Jos.
Board of Agriculture.
Bajie, Alex., Prahran.
Bookey, Inspector, Beechworth.
Brewster, George, Sandridge.
Brooke, J. H., M.L.A.
Brown, Capt. W., of the
Tom Brown.
11
i.e. the
Thomas Brown. There was more than one vessel with this name trading to Australia in the 1860s; the captain is probably William H. T. Brown.
Brown, J., Como.
12
i.e., John Brown (1804-1871), of the property 'Como', South Yarra, Vic.
Bucknall, Henry, Carisbrook.
Bunce, Daniel, Geelong.
Burry, Th., Tarrangower.
Campbell, Duncan, Lake Lalbert.
Cannon, Thos., South Yarra.
Carter and Watts, Messrs.
Catherwood, F. A., St. Kilda.
Chalmers, Rev. G. J., Christchurch, New Zealand.
Cobham, Mrs. Mary, Darling Downs, New South Wales.
Coghill, Donald.
Cole, Commissioner, Murray River.
13
Stephen Cole.
Cole, E. W., Castlemaine.
Cole, T. C., Richmond.
14
Thomas Cornelius Cole (1810-89)
Dardell, J., Batesford.
Delisse, Mons., Bordeaux.
Devine, Capt., of the barque
Lorenzo Sabine.
Dobson, A., Prahran.
Douglass, A., Geelong.
Dry, Sir Rich., Tasmania.
Eades, Miss.
Embling, Dr. Th., Kew.
Evans, Capt.
Faulding, J., Adelaide.
Gill, Sam.
Glass, Hugh.
Godfrey, H.
Goodwin, Rev. Th., Darling River.
Greeves, Dr. Aug.
Guiness,
Rev. Mr., South Yarra.
15
i.e. W. N. Guinness.
Haage and Smith, Erfurt.
Hannaford, Sam., Geelong.
Hardy, Mons. W., Algiers.
Harrington, H. G., Bath.
Head, Alex., Christchurch, New Zealand.
Heyne, E. B., Richmond.
Higgs, H. W.
Hodgkinson, J.
Hodson, H., South Yarra.
Hopwood, H., Echuca.
Huber and Co., Hyarès.
Hugham, Allan, Swan Hill.
Hughes, Th.
Joachimi, Collingwood.
Johnson, B. J., Thomastown.
Judd, W., South Yarra.
Kay, Miss, South Yarra.
Kochler, Consul, St. Kilda.
Kramer, Fr., Sandhurst.
Krause, Rev. E., Raratongo.
Long and Co., Th.,
Ballaarat.
16
Thomas Lang & Co.?
Laurie, Capt.,
of the
Formosa.
17
i.e. Captain John Lowrie
Ledger, Charles, New South Wales.
Loader, Thos., M.L.A.
Lord, S.
Manyfold,
Mrs., South Yarra.
18
Manifold? See M to J. Grant, 14 September 1868.
Minnett, D. J.,
Geelong.
19
D. F. Minnett?
Moody, J., Collingwood.
Moore, Ch., Sydney.
Moore, John, Toorak.
Mount, Dr., Ballaarat.
Murray, Andrew.
McAlpine, W., Tyers River.
McGowan, Sam.
McKinlay, J., Adelaide.
McMillan, Angus, Gipps Land.
McNaughton, A., Hobart Town.
Niall, Rev. P. W., Brighton.
Nott, Miss Mary, Maldon.
Oliver, G., New Plymouth.
Ollard, Capt. J., of the
Bosporus.
20
i.e.
Bosphorus.
Oswald. F., Nordhausen.
Palmer, Sir James.
Pamplin, W., London.
Patter, W. N., Darling.
Pavey, Dr., Berkshire.
Perry, Dr., Lord Bishop.
Perry, R. D., London.
Ploes, Mark,
Heathcote.
21
i.e. Mark Plues.
Politz, Richmond.
Pollard, N.
Ramel, P., Paris.
Ramsey, E., New South Wales.
Raven, Studley Park.
Reynolds, J. N.
Riddell, J., M.L.A.
Ried, Capt., R.N.
Robertson, Andr.
Robertson, W., Hexham.
Rogers, J., Sandstone Island.
Ross, W., Murray River.
Rostron, L.
Rule, J., Richmond.
Saunders, Consul, Alexandria.
Scardon, W.
Schaefer, Dr., Dutch Ship
Everdine Elizabeth.
Schaefer, Edw., Collingwood.
Scott, J., Hawthorn.
Smith, James, South Australia.
Smith J. H., Captain of
Mary Anne Wilson.
Smith, Rev. James, Castlemaine.
Smith, Wm.
Snowball, Joshua, South Yarra.
Stanway, W.
Sutherland, Alex., Glasgow.
Thomson, Wm., Airly, Gipps Land.
Thomson, Wm., Ipswich, England.
Thozet, A., Rockhampton.
Tripp, Mrs., Prahran.
Turner, D .A.
Tyler, J. Ch., South Yarra.
Vernon, W., Sydney.
Vilmorin, Andrieux and Co., Paris.
Wade, Th., Launceston.
Walker, W. C.
Watts, W.
Webster, A., Richmond.
Weidenbach, Max., Glen Osmond, South Australia.
Westall, W. F.
Wilhelmi, C., South Yarra.
Wilkinson, Rev. G., Williamstown.
Wilson, Wilfr., Dunedin.
Winterstein, E.,
Alexandria.
22
i.e. H. Winterstein.
Wood, J. B., Queensland.
Wood, Rev. W., Hawthorn.
Wright, A. J., South Yarra.
Wright, Geo.
Wright, Horatio, Ballaarat.
Wright, W.
Young, D., Geelong.
Young, John.
As worthy of special record, I feel it incumbent on me to enumerate—
Various consignments of seeds of useful plants from the Imperial Acclimation Society
of France.
An extensive collection of vines from l'école de Luxembourg, transmitted through M.
Pr. Ramel, of Paris.
Large collections of herbaceous seeds from Sir William Hooker, Director of the Royal
Gardens of Kew.
Extensive collections of seeds from the Imperial Botanic Gardens of Petersburg and
Vienne.
Collections of valuable pine seeds from the Horticultural Society of Petersburg.
Acorns of Mediterranean oaks from Consul Saunders, of Alexandria, and Mons. Hardy,
of Algiers.
Seeds of Sumach and other Mediterranean plants from Professor Dr. Planchon, Director
of the Botanic Garden of Montpellier.
Chinese and Japanese seeds from G. W. Rusden, Esq.
Seeds of Californian pines from C. Walker, Esq., of San Francisco.
23
The San Francisco nurseryman W. C. Walker? See list above.
Seeds of Himalaian pines from Professor Dr. Th. Anderson, Director of the Botanic Garden of Calcutta.
Oriental planes from Edw. Wilson, Esq.
Seeds of South African, especially esculent, plants from His Excellency Sir George
Grey, Governor of New Zealand.
Miscellaneous select seeds from Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux and Co., of Paris.
Valuable bulbs from J. P. Rothwell, Esq., of Port Natal.
Epiphytal orchids of the Madras Presidency from His Excellency Sir William Denison,
Governor of Madras.
Wardian cases with miscellaneous plants from the Botanic Gardens of Amsterdam, Hobart
Town, Adelaide, Buitenzorg, Brisbane, Hong Kong, from the Horticultural Society of
Calcutta, T. H. Hulke, Esq., of New Plymouth,
T. Butler,
Esq., of Calcutta, W .Butler, Esq., of Manilla.
24
25
J. Butler? J. H. Butler is listed in other reports as supplying living plants from
Calcutta, see M to J. McCulloch, 30 September 1865.
Various collections of seeds from Messrs. Handasyde , McMillan and Co.
Seeds from the Botanic Garden of Cape Town, Natal, Giessen, Darmstadt, Munich, Mauritius,
Edinburgh, Marseilles, Ceylon, Copenhagen.
In the transit of many of these consignments we are indebted to the disinterested
aid of the gentlemen of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and
many of our mercantile firms.
The Botanical Museum — comprising now 1139 arranged fascicles of dried plants, lodged
in demy printing paper (irrespective of a herbarium of Victorian plants and considerable
supplemental collections as yet unarranged) — has not less experienced the generosity
of many contributors, as will be perceived from the subjoined list of donors:—
Abel, A., Ballaarat.
Atkinson, Miss L., Fernhurst, New South Wales.
Beckler, Dr. Herm.
Bowman, Edwd., Walloon, Queensland.
Burkitt, J., Lachlan.
26
Lachlan River, NSW. Probably John Burkitt (c.1834-1919), or less likely his father John Burkitt (1804-1863). The family held pastoral leases in NSW, trading as John Burkitt & Sons.
Davenport, Honorable Sam., Glen Osmond, South Australia.
Fisher, M., Dunkeld.
Krefft, G., Sydney.
McHaffie, J., Phillip Island.
Panton, Sandhurst.
Paulson, Mrs. H., Castlemaine.
Ramsey, E. J., Sydney.
Ramsey, W., Syndey
27
sic.
Scott, Miss Helena, Hunter River.
Stuard,
Ch., Clifton.
28
i.e. Stuart.
Sutherland, E., Suttor River.
29
Typographical error? No specimens collected by an E. Sutherland are listed for MEL,
but there are some Sutherland collections indexed without an initial. None of these
are from Suttor River. A James Sutherland is known to have been in that area at this
period (see notes to J. Sutherland to M. April 1864 (in this edition as 66-04-00b)), and there are specimens at MEL attributed to J. Sutherland from Suttor River (AVH,
accessed 19 February 2023).
Thozet, A., Rockhampton.
Travers, Barrister, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ward, Dr. N. B., London.
Wehl, Mrs. Dr., Mount Gambier.
Williams, Dr., Queenscliff.
Woolls, W., Parramatta.
Deserving of special record are—
Ferns collected in Jamaica and Essequibo, and presented by His Excellency Sir Henry
Barkly, K.C.B.
Plants collected by Dr. Traill Green, Dr. C. C. Parry, D. C. Easton, Esq., J. W. Chickering, Esq., and others, in various
parts of North America, and presented by Professor Dr. Asa Gray, of Boston.
Plants illustrative of the flora of France, and an extensive collection of Algae,
from the Mediterranean and South African shores, presented by M. Réné Lénormand, Vire,
Calvados.
Alpine plants from the province of Canterbury, New Zealand, collected during his expeditions
by Dr. Jul. Haast.
Ceylon plants presented by G. Thwaites, Esq., Director of the Botanic Garden of Paradenia.
30
M reciprocated, sending Thwaites Australian plants, including scraps of North Australian
plants (G. Thwaites to J. Hooker, 13 November 1863; RBG Kew, Directors' correspondence
vol. 162, f. 207).
Plants collected on the Gulf of Carpentaria during his expedition and presented by
W. Landsborough, Esq., an index of which
accompanies his journal.
31
A systematic index without descriptions B62.11.01, is an appendix to Landsborough (1862).
Plants of Queensland, collected and presented by Jos. Nernst, Esq., of Ipswich.
Extensive collection of Indian plants, especially from the Himalaian Mountains, collected
and presented by Drs. Hooker and Thomson, of Kew.
The Museum also acquired during the year—
Additional collections of Abyssinian plants formed by Doctor Schimper.
Plants from the Island of Bourbon, collected by Mr. Bowin.
32
Typesetters' error for Boivin?
Guiana plants from Sir Robert Schomburgk's expedition.
Indian plants from the collections of Heyne and Roxburgh.
Fiji plants gathered by Dr. Berth. Seemann.
Plants collected on the western extremity of the Great Bight, by Mr. George Maxwell.
Further collections for our Herbarium were formed by Mr. Diedrich Henne during the
voyage of the
Victoria
to the Gulf of Carpentaria; and Mr. J. Dallachy continues collecting in the northern
districts of Queensland.
A series of all the plants collected during Mr. J. M. Stuart's last expedition was
presented by the Hon. H. Strangeways, Commissioner of Crown Lands of South Australia,
and those of the former expeditions of that highly distinguished explorer, by the
late J. Chambers, Esq., of North Adelaide; whilst the plants obtained by Dr. J. Murray,
during Mr. A. Howitt's expeditions, were placed by the latter gentleman at my disposal
for the Botanical Museum. Of both these collections I have the honor to append a systematic
enumeration.
33
These two enumerations were published with M's report, as follows, but are not reproduced here.
1. ENUMERATION OF THE PLANTS COLLECTED DURING MR. J. MACD. STUART'S EXPEDITIONS ACROSS
THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT IN 1860, 1861 AND 1862. By FERDNINAND MUELLER, M.D., PH.D., F.R.S.
2. ENUMERATION OF THE PLANTS COLLECTED BY DR. J. MURRAY DURING MR. A. HOWITT'S EXPEDITION
INTO CENTRAL AUSTRALIA IN THE YEAR 1862. By FERDINAND MUELLER, M.D., PH.D., F.R.S.,
GOVERNMENT BOTANIST FOR THE COLONY OF VICTORIA.
(See B63.05.01, pp. 11-15 and pp. 16-18, respectively).
Of the plants gathered by Messrs. Pemberton Walcott and Maitland Brown, during Mr.
Francis Gregory's expedition into the tropical tracts of Western Australia, a full
account has been furnished for the New Philosophical Journal of Edinburgh in the course
of this year.
34
B63.13.03.
Many of the novelties acquired for our Museum found, during the year, their first
elucidation in the Fragmenta Phytographiae, of which the third volume has recently
been issued.
A series of lithographed octavo plates, with analytical illustrations, of indigenous
mosses has also been completed during the year.
35
B64.10.03.
The plates for the Corolliflorae and the remainder of the Calyciflorae of "The Plants Indigenous to Victoria" have been completed, as well as some new, although
as yet unpublished, portions of the text of this work.
36
The first five sheets were the only parts of the intended second volume printed; see B63.13.06.
For the Universal Flora of Australia, now under elaboration by George Bentham, Esq.,
the President of the Linnean Society of London,
all our normal collections, corresponding to the text of the first volume of the work,
have been transmitted for comparison to London, and have been already partially returned;
for the same purpose the fascicles comprising the extensive orders of Myrtaceae and Leguminosae, as part of the material for the second volume, are now placed in
order, and will be despatched successively for Mr Bentham's perusal. It is pleasing
to observe, that thus our young establishment is already able to afford some material
aid towards a great work, by which one of the most learned, experienced, and laborious
naturalists of this age is now crowning his phytological labors, commenced more than
forty years ago.
37
Bentham (1863-78).
Whilst Professor Dr. Harvey, of Dublin, is bringing his important and beautifully
illustrated work on the Algae of Australia
rapidly to a close, I have recently endeavored by the formation of further collections
of seaweeds, on the shores of Phillip Island, to add to his material.
38
Harvey (1858-63).
The botanical investigation of the territory of our colony, now nearly completed,
has during this last summer been extended from the Bunyip River to the sources of
the Tarwan,
Tyers and La Trobe River, and thence along the Upper Yarra Ranges to the sources of
the Thomson River and Mount Useful.
39
Tarwin River, Vic.
Accompanied by Messrs. Alfred Walker and George Johnson, I succeeded also in traversing
the alpine elevations of the Barkly Ranges, which front the western tributaries of the Macallister River,
although we experienced much difficulty in penetrating the dense scrubs of the surrounding
ranges, through part of which we had to cut our way for the sake of connecting existing
tracks.
40
Macalister River, Vic.
It is not improbable that many of the gullies adjoining the ranges over which I passed
will prove auriferous; and, for the exploration of their mineral wealth, no measure
would be more stimulating than the cutting of tracks along the main ranges, for the
purpose of enabling the miners to advance with pack-horses to those positions from
which the valleys can be readily explored.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
FERD. MUELLER,
Government Botanist and Director to the
Botanic Garden.
The Honorable the Chief Secretary,
&c.,&c.,&c.
Alstonia constricta
Amyris terebinthifolia
Araucaria
Boehmeria nivea
Bromus unioloides
Calyciflorae
Ceanothus
Corolliflorae
Corypha Australis
Cynodon Dactylon
Cyperus vaginatus
Eucalyptus calophylla
Ficus macrophylla
Ficus syringifolia
Flindersia Australis
Flindersia Oxleyana
Hemitaphrum glabrum
Hovenia dulcis
Lavatera arborea
Leguminosae
Mniarum
Myrtaceae
Prunus mahaleb
Rhamnus erythroxylon
Rhamnus infectorius
Sophora Japonica
Strelitzia Reginæ
Wellingtonia