Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 64.07.20

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Joseph Hooker to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1864-07-20. 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/64-07-20>, accessed April 19, 2025

1
Filed with the MS is a clipping from The Times, 9 August 1872, containing a report of a debate in the House of Commons the previous day over an acrimonious dispute between Joseph Hooker and the Commissioner of Works Acton Ayrton (on which see MacLeod (1974)).
Kew July 20/64.
My dear Mueller
The two fibres which you sent as used for brush making are
Black bast - Brown or Monkey bast =
Attalea funifera

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Mexican fibre = Agave mexicana Lam.
2
See M to J. Hooker, 24 May 1864 (in this edition as 64-05-24a).
I sent you a fortnight ago by a young friend
3
See J. Hooker to M, 17 June 1864.
who went in a sailing ship 2 plants of Papyrus, in different compartments of a box, one to be kept rather moister than the other. I hope that both will arrive in a living state. We are all well, my father leaves for Norfolk tomorrow, to take a short holiday. I have just returned from a visit to Harvey at Dublin & Wicklow where we went a short tour with Mrs Harvey & Mrs Hooker. The weather was delightful.
My father is still busy at his Ferns, he will see about returning yours. I shall also enquire about your Carices, Mrs Boott has made over all her husbands collections to us, but I did not observe your Carices amongst them,
4
M sent specimens of
Carex

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‘intended … for the Kew Herbarium’ but which he wished Francis Boott to examine before incorporation; see M to W. Hooker, 26 May 1861. Two years later, M announced that another collection had been sent for examination and return; see M to W. Hooker, 29 April 1863 (in this edition as 63-04-29a). Just after this was forwarded to Boott from Kew, he fell dangerously ill; see W. Hooker to M, 26 July 1863. He died on 25 December 1863. M to G. Bentham, 12 December 1863, includes a request for the collection's return to Melbourne. The parcel was back in Melbourne by the following October; see M to J. Hooker, 25 October 1864 (in this edition as 64-10-25a).
no more did Mr Oliver.
5
Daniel Oliver.
We shall look again however.
Most sincerely yr
J D Hooker