Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne, 19/3/91.

T. R. Wilson Esqr,

Under Secretary

Sir.

I have the honor to report, that the 7th edition of the volume on "Select plants"

1

B88.12.01.

is so far exhausted, that after some few months no copies will be left purchasable, as this work is getting more and more known and therefore the demand for it is commensurately increasing. Under these circumstances I would respectfully recommend, that an other new edition may be brought out as early as possible, and that for the sake of expediting the printing of the 8th Edition it may be issued for the Department by a private printing-firm. The Gov. Printing Office seems always so over-burdened with work, that the bringing out of a new edition would likely there require a very considerable time. I have also the honor to state, that the 8th edition will be enlarged by about 50 pages. It may also be right to remark, that there can be very little difference in the expenditure, whether the book is printed at the Gov. Establishment or at a private office, and I like also to say, that of the three Victorian editions one was printed by permission of the Minister at a private printing place,

2

The first edition of the work (B76.13.03) was printed by McCarron, Bird & Co.; the other Victorian editions (B85.12.03, B88.12.01) were printed by the Government Printer.

as were the two editions of the Census of Australian plants.

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B83.03.04, B89.12.03.

Under these considerations I beg to ask, that I may be allowed, to call for tenders of printing this new edition, perhaps simply as on former occasions by getting offers from three leading firms in Melbourne.

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The Chief Secretary, G. Langridge, approved M's request on 23 March 1891 and Wilson sent the file to M with instructions to obtain and submit the tenders. This M did; see M to T. Wilson, 4 April 1891. See also C. Troedel & Co. to M, 25 March 1891; Sands & McDougall Ltd to M, 25 March 1891 (in this edition as 91-03-25a); and McCarron, Bird & Co. to M, 1 April 1891 (in this edition as 91-04-01a). The work was published as B91.09.01.

Of the vote for publishing works in the Governm. Botanists Department a sufficiency is left available, to carry the new edition through in the present financial year. I like to draw attention also to the fact, that the monetary outlay, which for this new issue will be incurred, proposed to be 1000 copies, will largely be recouped by sale of the book, irrespective of its becoming gratuitously available for public institutions.

Altho' the sum still left for the purpose indicated, could be devoted to lithographic work in the Governm. Botanists Establishment, I deem it best, that preference should be given for applying the fund, about £250.- .-, to the issue of an enlarged edition of the "Select plants".

I may add, that shortly I shall ask the hon. the Chief Secretary for permission, that two small departmental publications

5

Not identified. One item may have been B91.13 01, which was typeset but appears never to have been issued.

be brought out soon at the Gov. Printing Office, but neither of them is of such very great urgency as the "Select plants".