Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81, ff. 85-6. 73.04.21b

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1873-04-21 [73.04.21b]. 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/73-04-21b>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne bot Garden
21/4/73
When recently examining some
Stylideae

Search for Stylideae in

, dear Dr Hooker, I had occasion to confirm your supposition beyond any doubt, that
Donatia

Search for Donatia in

must be placed in that order.
1
J. Hooker (1844-7), vol. 1, p. 282.
I further have restored the name
Phyllachne

Search for Phyllachne in

for
Forstera

Search for Forstera in

and
Candollea

Search for Candollea in

for
Stylidium

Search for Stylidium in

in the coming number of the Fragmenta.
2
B73.04.02, pp. 40-1.
On some other plants I have written to the good Mr Bentham.
3
M to G. Bentham, 25 April 1873.
The new volume of the genera
4
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83).
will bring a vast amount of new and solid information.
I come now to a subject of perhaps some importance. By this mail I have forwarded to you a small case with products from Eucalyptus tar, made by my order in my laboratory. This supplements various other phytochemic substances, sent to London for the Exhibition under care of the Victorian Commissioner[s]. I am fully aware, that the time for Exhibits being received is closed, but as I do not compete for a prize, you might easily arrange for the admission yet, in order that the articles may come under the eyes of the jurors . They are finally destined for your Museum ,
5
See RBG Kew, Museum entry book, Kew, 1861-79, p. 357, entry for 12 November 1873
but I must have them previously through your kind action brought under full notice. Perhaps my friend, Baron Justus Von Liebig, may visit the Exhibition. If so you might draw the attention of this great man to the subject. I fancy, that it will bring many new researches about, because the investigations for tar oils, anilin[e] colors &c have been made hitherto almost solely on Coniferous woods. If you take into considerations what a vast quantity of Eucalyptus wood as "hardwood" is available in Australia and how easily these trees are cultivated in the warm temperate zones, then any new products from them demand very careful attention. We have now before us the startling fact, that
Eucalyptus Globulus

Search for Eucalyptus Globulus in

yeilds a tar oil , which can be separated by chemical means into not less than 10 separate oils , of which all I send samples. All are peculiar and will have their own technologic uses! After the crushing reductions here of course my wings are clipped, as Mr Edw Wilsons people and my other tormentors have brought my Department to the brink of Starvation. All the quantity prepared is sent to you, but I will try to get an other lot ready for tests by myself here as regards solubility of various resins, chemical reaction &c.
6
M had determined the specific gravities and boiling points of the samples, see M to T. Caruel, 21 April 1873 (in this edition as 73-04-21d) and M to P. Ramel, 27 April 1873, and the data were published in Italy and France as B73.07.03 and B73.07.04.
Meanwhile the excellent Dr Gladstone might kindly examine the samples, sent to you for refraction and publish the results,
7
John Hall Gladstone. No relevant article by Gladstone has been found. M does not include a reference to any work by Gladstone in his bibliography of Eucalyptus included in the entry for E. globulus in Decade 6 of B80.13.14.
which I can then utilize for my new report at the hoped resuscitation of my Department. The Agent of the Peninsul. & Orient Company sends my case free as far as Southampton. Please make arrangements for safe location in the exhibition.
8
The Kew copy of The London Exhibition of 1873. The Victorian Exhibition. Official Catalogue of Exhibits (RBG Kew, International Exhibitions 1867-74) includes near the printed entry 'Collection of preparations from Victorian Vegetable Products, prepared by Baron von Mueller, Director of the Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, viz.:
202 Fibre of Cordyline Forsteri, F v Mueller.
203 " " indivisa Kunth.'
the handwritten annotation:
Distilled oil Melaleuca […] [last word cut off at top of page 19]
Distilled oil Melaleuca decussata
" Callistemon rigidus
" C. coccineus
Tar from Casuarina suberosa
" Pinus sylvestris L
Purified wood spirit Euc. globulus
" acetic acid
Heavy tar oil from Euc. viminalis
Neutral " " "
Acetone " "
Crystalline substance " "
These specimens were apparently exhibited: see M to J. Hooker, 8 September 1873 (in this edition as 73-09-08b).
With best salutation
Ferd. von Mueller
I enclose an order for the delivery of the case to your Agent at Southampton or London.
9
Order not found.