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Physical location:

69.03.08

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Grant, 1869-03-08. 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/69-03-08>, accessed April 19, 2025

1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see B69.07.03, pp. 9-13, 21.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
Melbourne Botanic Garden,
8th March, 1869.
SIR,
In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor of submitting a brief Report on the work carried on in the Botanic Garden, and the scientific establishments connected therewith, during the last six months. This document may be considered as supplementary to the last general Report, and will also briefly explain what additional work seems recommendable during the year 1869.
In the horticultural division of the establishment, the shelter accomodation for tender or young plants has been extended so much, that now the whole space under cover, either by glass or calico or brush shades, exceeds half an acre. Many rare plants, often new to Australian cultivation, flowered or bore fruit for the first time. To show how the riches of the establishment are thus yearly increasing and may extensively be diffused, I may instance that the first Flame-tree, in producing fruit last year, gave the means of raising nearly one thousand seedlings. The
Grevillea

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avenues commenced flowering this season, and it may be imagined, what a brilliant effect the long lines of this tree will produce in years to come.
The conservatories have been rendered lately still more gay by new access to the silvery and banded Assam Begonias, the variedly spotted
Caladiums

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of Central America, and various gesneriaceous and many other gorgeous plants; while arrangements are made to add to the collection
Dionaea

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, the
Sarracenia

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s of North America,
Biophytum

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, and other plants, remarkable for spontaneous movement or extraordinary structure. The Great Central American Water-lily
2
Victoria regia. See Maroske (1992).
bearing the name of Her Majesty is now flowering through the third year; but the narrow, inexpensive house, allotted as well to this noble plant and other tropical aquatics as to the equinoctial
Orchidae

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,
3
Orchideae ?
stands much in need of extension. To the plants in the general garden ground additions have steadily been made, so much so, that now a fair re-arrangement can be effected in many places, to represent on separate plots the characteristic vegetation of the great divisions of the globe in a very instructive manner. During the extraordinary dryness of this summer miles of edgings became quite parched, and will require renewal in the autumn, for which purpose the less perishable Mesembryanthemum will be chosen. Porcelain labels, with unobliterable letters, have been ordered as a commencement of naming the plants in a more lasting and sightly manner. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, during his stay last year, condescended to plant on one of the lawns, in remembrance of his visit, the Patagonian Saxono-Gothaea conspicua and the Californian
Pinus Alberti

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,
4
Not in IPNI (accessed 20 April 2021); M used Abies Albertiana elsewhere in the correspondence.
trees which commemorate the name of his illustrious and lamented parent.
A great boon has been conferred on the Garden by the Government, in sanctioning the establishment of steam works for forcing Yarra water to the highest rise, 110 feet, from whence some irrigation is now effected over the great part of the Garden area and the adjoining reserves.
5
See Lamb (1996).
If even during ordinary summers the duty of providing for the safety of the extensive plantations proved a source of very great anxiety, and of extreme toil, both day and night, then this duty became still more onerous during the horrors of an almost rainless summer, when, during successive hot winds, the up-growing tree-vegetation, as well as the tender garden plants, had to be protected over nearly 400 acres of ground against the imminent danger of destruction, and this with an inadequate water supply. Happily this difficulty, in a great measure, has now been overcome; and inasmuch as it may be of importance to owners of estates on the sides of rivers to obtain data of the yield and working expenses of the engine employed at this spot (which engine is one of high-pressure and six-horse power), I beg to submit the following calculations:—
Yield -
In one hour — — —
4,962 gallons
In one day, under actual working, of ten hours
49,620 "
In one year, with 308 working days of ten hours' work
15,282,960 "
£.
s
d.
Expenditure
Wages of an engine-driver for eight hours each day, at
0
8
0
Wages of a mechanic for two hours each day, at
0
2
0
Four and a half cwt. of coals each day
0
5
11
Oil, nearly 1lb. — —
0
0
7
Tallow, cotton-waste, and anti-friction grease — —
0
0
10
Daily expense
£0
17
4
Expenditure per year of 308 working days, 17s. 4d. per day
£266
18
8
The expenditure for the raised Yarra water exceeds thus, slightly, 4d. per 1,000 gallons.
New South Wales house coal, screened, per ton of 2,240 lbs., as under contract for 1869, £1 6s.
I cannot state the precise value of the engine, it being transferred from another department.
The above calculation allows, however, not for occasional repairs, nor for a few hours' detention of the work during each week for cleaning purposes, nor for interest on capital expended for the engine, force-pump, and water pipes.
The capacity of the small temporary tank to receive the water at the summit of the ridge is, however, only 1,700 gallons, and until provision shall have been made for a spacious and raised tank, as intended, one great difficulty will continue, namely, that although a large supply of water is available it can, under faint pressure, only in very limited quantity find its way through the ramifications of the former Yan Yean pipes to distant higher parts of the Garden and reserves.
The eight mostly spacious cisterns for the reception of rain-water from the roofs of the Garden buildings, and the four iron tanks, will be kept filled, to provide against any emergency in the event of breakage at the engine. I may still remark that, although during the cooler months steam-power will not require to be used every day, nevertheless, any savings then effected in the outlay will need to be expended again during the hottest weather, when fourteen hours' daily work of the engine will be needed.
The Geyser fountain in the lake (which for two afternoon hours in cool weather, and then on Sundays only, was worked with Yan Yean pressure) has ceased to play. Until the steam-engine was provided the Garden enjoyed Yan Yean supply during two night hours (from 3 - 5 a.m.) provided in cool weather the pressure admitted of obtaining any supply at all; but this boon has now entirely ceased. The whole of the former Yan Yean pipes, provided on expenses of the Garden, have become available again for the conveyance of the Yarra water.
The large reserve between the St. Kilda road and the Yarra is converted, within the last five years, from a treeless waste into an incipient forest. From year to year additional kinds of trees become interspersed; thus shade and shelter as well against the north-western desert winds, as also against the south-west antartic storms, will be more and more obtained. Few even of our metropolitans seem aware that the verdant valleys which, within five minutes' drive from the City bridge, slope gently to the Yarra, afford already charming picnic grounds, on which, free from the dangerous vicinity of the reptiles of our ranges, field amusements can be enjoyed simultaneously with views of rare beauty. Access of carriages to the whole of this rising ground and its gullies is permitted, under the anticipation that all ordinary caution will be exercised to prevent injury to the young trees. By the gradually denser growth of grass, lucerne, and clover plants, the so-called Cape-weed (
Cryptostemma calendulaceum

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) has become largely suppressed; but inasmuch as the Director of the grounds has repeatedly been accused of having brought this and other weeds, as well as some winged invaders, into our colony, it may be right to place it here on record, that the whole of these assertions is contrary to facts, and that already, in 1833, Baron Von Huegel noticed and recorded the Cryptostemma as an inexterminable weed of Australia. A gardener's cottage occupies, since a few months, the last of the empty old quarries, until then a favorite retreat of vagrants.
For more than a mile's length, basalt boulders have recently been brought from Jolimont, by permission of the City Council, to line the intended footpaths on both sides of the main drive. The drive itself, to the width of twenty feet, requires to be macadamized, for which purpose the boulders may be utilized, whenever more elegant linings can be substituted for them.
By the friendly aid of the military authorities lately, walks became laid out on and near the Yarra bank, towards the City bridge. During the coming autumn it is intended to define these walks with many hundreds of rose-bushes. The fences along the St. Kilda road, Domain road, and Anderson street, up to the point at which the iron fencings commence, have sunk almost into destruction. Several thousand young Willows, planted along both sides of the Yarra bank during the last cool season, have weathered fairly through this summer of drought, labor for watering those on the north bank having been granted by the Corporation.
An important work will devolve on the department in further excavations on the lake, if the needful extra aid can be rendered. The water evaporated entirely through the aridity of the season, and no sufficient rise of the river has taken place to refill the lake. The advantages of deepening this basin would be manifold. Its niveau and that of the river would become permanently equal, and a constant communication between both would become possible; material would be gained to heighten the flood-dam so far as to obviate future inundations of the Garden; the brackish water of the lake would become fresh and available for garden purposes; further storage of soil for the improvement of the meagre Garden slopes would become possible; waterfowl might permanently be maintained on the lake; and finally, the aspect of the whole landscape would be greatly beautified.
Sir William Macarthur's method of wrapping hard seeds into moistened cloth to speed their germination has been adopted to advantage.
A variety of Bamboos and different Sugar-canes were secured, including the hardy Chinese cane; forty-eight kinds of Vines were added on behalf of the Acclimatisation Society to the already large collection, which includes the white and black American Scuppernong, the Sultana raisin grape, the French Cognac grape, Follet Blanche, and many other famed kinds, new or rare in Australia. The true Oriental Dye Saffron,
Colchicum

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, the oil-yielding
Sesamum

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, the Tussac grass of the Falkland Islands, the Caper (quite an ornamental plant), the wide-spreading avenue Acacia of West Australia (
Acacia saligna

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),
Ficus sycamorus

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6
F. sycomorus ?
(the best of all avenue trees of the Orient), the Clove,
Rhamnus utilis

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(yielding the green satin dye of China), the Sapodilla, the Avocado Pear, the Indian Teak, Cassava, Squill, Turmeric, the medicinal Bhel fruit, the Tree Cotton, Mangostan, edible
Vanguiera

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, Aya-pana,
Gelsemium

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, and many other important plants, are more recent acquisitions to the garden. Although it may as yet be impossible to cultivate remuneratively the Saffron and many other of the plants indicated, it remains evidently still the aim of a public institution to establish such plants timely in the country.
Turning to the nursery department I can report favorable progress, notwithstanding the precarious supply of water during the great heat. For the first time in Australia masses were raised of plants of Assam Tea (the seed kindly supplied, on the Director's wish, by W.H. Birchall, Esq.)
7
Not all persons named in the narrative report or in the appended lists have been identified; those that have been have entries in the biographical directory.
; so also large numbers of the White-heart Hickory or Mocker-nut (
Carya tomentosa

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), of the delicious Pecan-nut (
Carya oliviformis

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), the Butter-nut (
Juglans cinerea

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), the Black Walnut (
Juglans nigra

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), the Himalayan Oak (
Quercus incana

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), the Chestnut Oak (Querc. Castanea), the American Swamp Oak (Querc. Prinos
8
Q. prinus ?
), the Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), the White Oak (Q. alba, a most valuable timber tree), the Jersey Pine (
Pinus inops

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), the American Pitch Fir (P. rigida), the Douglass Pine, the noble Himalayan
Pinus longifolia

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, the Chinese Fir, the Balm of Gilead Fir (P. balsamea), the double Canada Balsam Fir (P. Fraseri), the West India Pencil Cedar (
Juniperus Bermudiana

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), and the American Cherry Birch (
Betula lenta

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).
Many other highly valuable trees have been lately introduced, but not really in masses. Secured were, however, large supplies of the seeds of
Pinus Gerardiana

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(the Tibet Ree or Shungtee), which furnishes sweet edible nuts for Indian and Persian bazaars; and grains also were obtained in quantity of
Juniperus religiosa

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(the Himalayan Pencil Cedar). Many good-sized plants of the latter are since several years on our lawns. Nearly all the tree seeds from the United States were obtained through the generous aid of Prof. Asa Gray, of Boston.
Perhaps the most remarkable of all plants lately brought under cultivation is the deadly poisonous
Physostigma venenosum

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, the Calabar Ordeal Bean, a plant of the utmost importance in ophthalmic diseases. The large hard bean was buried fully four years in soil before it germinated.
As decennia roll on, many of the trees, which under great efforts are now introduced, will undoubtedly bear prominence in our forest culture, a great subject which more and more presses on legislative attention, since already so much of the native timber in all the lowlands has been consigned to destruction. If, in densely populated countries like Belgium, one-fifth of the whole of its territory is scrupulously kept under forest culture, it ought to be a final aim, in a far hotter clime, to maintain a still greater proportion of its area covered by woods, if the comforts and multifarious wants of a dense population are to be timely provided for. It is especially in the western and northern parts of Victoria where exertions in this direction have to be made; it is there where extensive shelter and retention of humidity is needed, and there also where artesian borings on spots, indicative as eligible, would vastly promote the raising of forests.
By your kind concession, sir, I was enabled to spend in the beginning of this year one week in Tasmania with a view of adding, by field observations and new collections, to the material of my works. This journey (my first to the island) was to me replete with interest. For although I had aided in the elucidation of the Tasmanian vegetation for more than twenty years from museum plants, I had no opportunity until this year to observe the many highland plants, absolutely peculiar to the island, in their wild native grace. Moreover, I succeeded, within the brief time of my visit, to ascend Mount Field East, about 5,000 feet high, lying about half way between Hobarton and Macquarie Harbor; and as this mountain range and the shores of Lake Fenton had not been subjected to any previous phytological investigation, it fell to my share to obtain copious novel information on the distribution of the alpine plants of Tasmania. To contrast the consociations of these and their geological relations with those of the Australian Alps proved in a high degree instructive.
The Museum collections become more and more important, and their value as a lasting source of authentic information for centuries to come can never be over-estimated. It remains, however, a source of regret that no more amateur collectors in far inland localities send spontaneously plants, simply pressed and dried; by which means much would be learnt additionally on the range of different species over the continent, and their variation in form. The facilities for obtaining on any plants reliable information, always cheerfully given, might in all future also not be equally great, nor the opportunities of literary record always remain the same. If to the several hundred thousand plants in the Museum still a collection could be added, rich in authentic specimens, described in works during the earlier parts of this century, we would then possess one of the grandest institutions for phytographic research anywhere in existence.
The want of an appropriate hall, with proper fittings, has prevented special teaching by lectures in the Garden. But as an illustrious Professor of Natural Sciences also teaches phytology at the University, it might be desirable to restrict any future occasional demonstrative lectures in this place to those industrial phytological subjects, through which science enters into occupations of daily practical life, occupations of which many in this young country have still to be called forth. It might be desirable also, with a view of diffusing a vivid knowledge on the native vegetation, to arrange for occasional Saturday afternoon excursions of students and amateurs to botanically interesting spots in the vicinity of the city.
Whatever may be the decision in reference to the organization of the general Industrial Museum in the city, there should certainly one spacious room in the Garden likewise be available as a store of object of leading importance, emanating from plants of different parts of the globe. Such vegetable objects, like those in Sir Will. Hooker's great institution of Kew, could no more advantageously be studied than in connection with the living plants of the Garden or conservatories here.
The timber, fibres, resins, gums, dyes, paper-materials, drugs, oils, alkalies, and many chemical educts from plants of Australia could be contrasted with similar products of other countries; the processes of manufacture and their technological and commercial value be demonstrated; while subjects relating to culture of any kind could be elucidated, diseases of plants by objects and drawings illustrated, and many other kindred enquiries drawn into the vitality of practical application. Thus I may instance that it seems not generally known how our common Eucalyptus leaves under Ramel's process can be converted into cigars, or how the same leaves serve as a remedy in intermittent fever.
I herewith beg to submit the fourth volume of the work on all Australian Plants, elaborated, under my aid, by the President of the Linnean Society.
9
Bentham (1863-78).
This volume brings the number of species already described to nearly 5,000. For the fifth volume, which is to embrace mainly the
Monochlamydeae

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, the whole material in our Museum has been preliminarily prepared. Hitherto, precisely fifty large cases of museum plants in 922 large fascicles, with notes, have been transmitted on loan to Kew for the elaboration of this work, the collections here accumulated, or furnished originally from hence, being more extensive than the united former Herbaria of Australian plants in Britain.
We may reflect, not without pride, on the fact, that a similar descriptive work exists not even yet for the vegetation of Europe, and we may also remember that, without a work of this kind, the confused vernacular appellations and any medicinal technological cultural, or other observations on the native plants, could not be reduced to a solid scientific basis. R. Brown's celebrated Prodomus, issued in 1810,
10
R. Brown (1810).
comprised only about one-third of the Australian plants then known, and even the orders elaborated in his volume have been augmented by more recent researches almost threefold. Of the Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae, the sixth volume has also been completed last year, and the seventh is commenced. Within the few next years I trust it will be in my power, if Providence grants me life and strength, to issue, on the plants of each of the Australian colonies, a special volume, for which much preliminary work has been done.
The library became also lately further enlarged, but mainly on the Director's private means. Personal travelling expenses since 1852, and all outlay for scientific and local journals, British and foreign agencies, means of conveyance for attending at the city, office light, and many other official expenses, as well as the courtesies which are demanded from a public department frequented by very numerous visitors, have also ever solely and readily been defrayed from the administrator's own resources, who, not for any selfish purposes whatever, ventures to place these facts, after the lapse of many years, on record, but simply in justice to himself, because the obligations devolving on him in maintaining the efficiency and dignity of the department seem not at all understood.
When now long past the zenith of ordinary life, he can with fairness assert, that thirty of his best years have been absorbed almost entirely in phytologic and cognate pursuits; that almost seventeen years have been devoted cheerfully and exclusively to the main foundation and on struggling services of his department, and this, he may add, with the sole aim of endeavouring to effect some lasting good to the great country which, since twenty-two years, he adopted as his permanent home.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your very obedient and humble servant,
FERD. VON MUELLER.
The Honorable J.M. Grant, M.P.;
President of the Board of Land and Works.
11
Printed on p. 21 of B69.07.03.
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS OF GROWING PLANTS
RECEIVED FROM SEPTEMBER, 1868, TILL MARCH, 1869.
Many donations have besides been received from donors whose names occur in the foregoing pages.
12
i.e. in the lists appended to M to J. Grant, 14 September 1868.
Baldy, G., Collingwood.
13
Error for G. Baldie?
Bernays, A., Brisbane.
Botanic Garden, Grahamstown.
" " Brisbane.
" " Natal.
Bryerly, T., Brisbane.
14
Possibly an error for F.J. Byerley.
Cassel, Mrs., Prahran.
Comrie, Curryong, N. S. W.
Cook, G., Prahran.
Daintree, Richard, Gilbert River.
Ewen, J. A., New Zealand.
Farie, Claud, South Yarra.
Huber Frères, Hyères, France.
Learmonth, A. L., Irsledon.
15
i.e. Ercildoune, Vic. Probably A. J. L. Learmonth.
MacOwen, P.,
16
i.e. P. MacOwan.
Grahamstown.
Martin, J. P., Richmond.
Meller, Dr., Botanic Garden, Mauritius.
Muir, P., Brisbane.
Ryan, Mrs. Ch., Richmond.
Shepherd and Co., Sydney.
Sheridan, R. B., Maryborough, Queensland.
Sims, J. B., Brighton.
Todaro, Professor, Palermo.
Virgoe, W., Brighton.
Weidenbach, Max., Adelaide.
CONTRIBUTORS OF SEEDS.
Acclimatisation Society, Brisbane.
" " Otago.
Agri-Horticultural Society, Punjaub.
Amsinck, Capt., R. N., Melbourne.
Bernays, L. A., Brisbane.
Birchall, H., Richmond.
Bryant, T., New Zealand.
Bruce, J. D., Assam, India.
Carey, J. C., Bunbury, Western Australia.
Chapman, D., Western Australia.
Cresswell, C. A., Hobarton.
Daintree, Richard, Gilbert River.
Evans, R., Collingwood.
Fitzalan, E., Port Denison, Queensland.
Gerrard, J., Sale, Gippsland.
Government, Madras, India.
Graburn, W., Otago.
Graham, W., Fiji.
Hamilton, W. S., Wellington.
Hicks, J., Melbourne.
Hill, W., Brisbane.
Hooker, Dr. J. D., Kew.
Howitt, Dr., Melbourne.
Howitt, A. W., Bairnsdale.
Horticultural Society, Melbourne.
Huddlestone, F., Otago.
Jouvet, A., Melbourne.
Katzenstein, J., Cassel, Germany.
17
Typesetters error for I?. Isaac Katzenstein, a previous donor (see M to R. Heales, 10 January 1861), is known to have left the colony of Victoria in 1868. J. H. Katzenstein, born in Cassel, was a merchant in Melbourne but newspaper reports show that he was active in the colony in 1868 and 1869.
Kenworthy, E., Melbourne.
Langtree, H., Richmond.
MacKen, Botanic Garden, Natal.
MacKenzie, Dickson, Assam, India.
Miller, W. H., South Yarra.
Pancher, A., New Caledonia.
Regel, Dr. E., St. Petersburg.
Sangster and Taylor, Toorak.
Shand, C., Christchurch, N. Z.
Sichel, E. F., Melbourne.
Stuart, C., Tenterfield, New England.
Synnott, W., Grant.
Thwaites, Dr., Ceylon.
Walker, W., Melbourne.
Williams, Dr., Queenscliff.
Youl, Dr., Melbourne.
CONTRIBUTORS OF MUSEUM PLANTS.
Barlee, F., Colonial Secretary, Perth.
Beckett, T. W. N., Ceylon.
Bureau, Dr. E., Paris.
Calvert, J. G., Cavan, Yass, Sydney.
Caley, C., Bunbury, W. A.
Chapman, D., Western Australia.
Fitzalan, E., Port Denison, Queensland.
Fowler, W., York's Peninsula.
Gummow, Dr., Swan Hil.
Helmich, A., Perth, W. A.
Jones, D., Auckland, N. Z.
Knight, W. G., Porongerup, W. A.
Mein, Dr., Edwards River.
Musgrave, A. W.,
18
i.e. A. W. Musgrove.
Warrnambool.
Sullivan, Dr., Gawler Ranges.
Todaro, Professor, Palermo.
Warburton, G. E., Western Australia.
A series of Victorian geological specimens, particularly illustrative of soils in relation to vegetation, has been deposited in this establishment by the kindness of A. Selwyn, Esq.
A second supplementary list of books and journals secured recently for the library will be furnished hereafter.
19
No further list has been found.