Document information

Physical location:

66.10.00d

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hulke, 1866-10 [66.10.00d]. 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/66-10-00d>, accessed April 19, 2025

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from Taranaki herald (NZ), 10 November 1866, p. 3. It is dated to late October 1866, as the latest likely date that it could have been written by M to be reported in this issue of the newspaper, published weekly. On the basis of the note in B61.13.12, p. 157, where Th. H. Hulke, of New Plymouth is said to have supplied M with a living specimen from which M named Veronica hulkeana,, the correspondent would seem to be that person. However, no biographical details of Th. H. Hulke have been found, whereas William King Hulke had established what became a very successful nursery for producing New Zealand flax at New Plymouth in the early 1860s. He had no children (Taranaki daily news , 24 October 1908, p. 2). The only other Hulke in the New Zealand electoral rolls is Charles Hulke, but he was never recorded as living in the Taranaki district, in which New Plymouth is situated. M acknowledges receiving plants from W. H. Hulke in M to W. Nicholson, 12 January 1860.
[We have been led to these remarks
2
On the need to introduce 'new forms of industry into the colony'.
by hearing from Mr. Hulke that, through the kindness of Dr. Mueller, curator of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, he is in possession of a packet of the seed of the Imperial sugar beet, and of the Shiraz tobacco, which he will be glad to distribute among persons who desire to try the experiment of growing them.]