Ferdinand von Mueller

June 14 [189]3

1

editorial addition.

Dear Baron

I shall not answer your letter dated June 8th

2

Letter not found; probably the letter 're Flora Austral.' recorded by Bailey in his register of incoming mail as having been received on 13 June 1893.

in extenso for it does not alter my opinions already stated of the way in which my work has been treated in your publications &c

3

See, for example, F. Bailey to M, 5 August 1892. M felt that Bailey's determinations and descriptions were too unsafe to use for his Census (B89.12.03 and predecessors); see, for example, M to W. Thiselton-Dyer 25 August 1890 (in this edition as 90-08-25a), an opinion that had little changed since he outlined in M to J. Hooker, 24 July 1882, some of Bailey's erroneous judgements.

but enough of this

I am sorry to hear of your illness and hope long ere this reaches you that you will be well. Re the preparation of a supplementary volume to Benthams Flora Australiensis

4

Bentham (1863-78).

as you assure me that if left to you to prepare you will adopt both the system & style of the former volumes I shall be glad to leave the matter in your hands.

5

See F. Bailey to M, 3 June 1893.

I may however remark that I understand that no changes of nomenclature is to be made except the few mentioned in Bentham & Hookers Genera Plantarum

6

Bentham & Hooker (1862-83).

and that both well marked varieties and naturalized plants will be recorded and the descriptions given, and that the language used be as similar as possible to that of Bentham I particularly request this for in my opinion no botanist has ever written so clearly as that great descriptive botanist. All that is required by myself and those wishing me to undertake the preparation of the volume proposed, is that it should in no sense differ in style from Bentham's great and excellent work. With these few remarks I leave the work of the preparation of the volume in your hands as I understand from your letter that you will comply with our wishes with regard to nomenclature & system

Baron Ferd von Mueller

Government Botanist for VICTORIA