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G58/6593, unit 745, VPRS 1189 inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 58.08.00bPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to John O'Shanassy, 1858-08 [58.08.00b]. 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//letters/1850-9/1858/58-08-00b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
1
MS annotation by the Under Secretary, J. Moore, 3 August 1858: 'read'.
The holes for planting out the young trees into the pinetum having been completed,
a number of Norfolk Island pines, of Moreton Bay Araucarias and some other rare pines
have been planted in rows, and it is thought that the Pine-forest thus formed on the
N. W. ridge will have a splendid effect when attaining its full size. We were obliged
to remove a large quantity of bad soil from where we planted these trees, and this
has been used in forming partially the new walk along the lagoon between the menagerie
and aviary. This walk is nearly completed.
A new nursery was formed in the valley above the rustic bridge, to which some of the
frames were removed.
A large number of cuttings have been put into the ground, to provide chiefly the public
reserves and the gardens in the next season with plants, and many more would have
been prepared, were we not overwhelmed with other work, such as the digging of the
flower-borders, in many of which the soil has not been stirred for two and three seasons.
Pruning has been going on continually. Annuals are sown now all over the ground. Tenders
have been called in for writing labels, a desideratum long felt, and I regret very
much that these means of instruction to the Visitors could for want of adequate fund
not be supplied already long ago. The planting of avenues as far as we can carry it
out this season is completed.
As soon as I learnt the kind decision of the hon. the Chief Secretary to provide fund
for travelling expenses, I gave instructions to Mr Dallachi
to proceed to Swan Hill by the mail coach, and to go thence down the Murray through
the Mallee-Scrub and to secure seedlings of the many rare desert-plants discovered
there in former journeys of the Gov. Botanist, but at a season, when they could not
be removed to the Gardens. Mr Aug. Oldfield has been sent on Dr. Muellers private
expense to collect in Western Australia for the next six months, from whence he intends
to supply plants & seeds to this garden. Alex Ralston Esq. of South Yarra has pointed
out the means of obtaining plants from the Chatham Islands, most of which are not
yet even known to Science.
2
i.e. J. Dallachy. The request for travel expenses for Dallachy was made in M to J.
O'Shanassy, 6 June 1858, and reiterated in M to J. O'Shanassy, 23 June 1858, when it was 'authorized'.
The plants of the Library & University Herbarium have been catalogued. Under progress
is the catalogue of the plants cultivated in this ground, and this will be furnish in the course of August accompanying the annual
Garden-Report.
3
B58.11.02.
The Director has been instructed by the Committee appointed for the administration
of the zoological gardens, to undertake likewise the superintendence of that establishment.
— It is to be hoped that the union of the two gardens will be a permanent one, in
as much as the dry barren slate-ridges of the bot. Garden are much more suitable for
keeping the animals, than the basaltic flatts originally destined for their reception,
whilst many forest trees and other plants, which it is almost hopeless to cultivate
in our ground would thrive much better in the area of the zoological gardens, for
which reason already an application was submitted to the honorable the Chief Secretary
some months ago for a grant of the land situated between the zool. gardens and the
Punt Road, and I would humbly pray that even now this piece of ground should be reserved
for the extension of this establishment.
4
See M to J. O'Shanassy, 26 July 1858.
The approaches to the footbridge are now finished under the direction of the honorable
the Chief Commissioner of public works, and the hillocks have been sown with English
Rye Grass.
The Bailiff quitted his tent and has moved into the new cottage. This being erected
on a concealed place, I pray to be permitted to remove the stable & cart shade thither.
5
The Bailiff ...shade thither
is marked by a line in the margin.
The brick-cistern for the palm-house is completed by contractor Savage and the heating
apparatus under progress. The vaste ground in the Centre of the garden is now all
around enclosed with a flower-border also with a row of West. Australian Acacias,
which in a few months will screen it entirely from sight.
The laying out of avenues principly of Blue Gum trees in the Gov. Reserve along the
St. Kilda Road and on the foot of the ridge along the Yarra has been superintended
by the Gov. Botanist. The line will be continued throughout the Southern part of our
paddock if the office of public works can supply the fund requisite for fencing, for
which an application has been made.
The animals are all in a thriving condition; the singing birds are commencing to build
anew.
The water from the roofs of the Orchestra pavillon & from the Shade is now conveyed
into iron-tanks fixed near the propagating store
The number of gardeners and labourers employed was 18, far too less to that desirable
at this season, if the fund admitted of it
6
The number ... admitted of it
is marked by a line in the margin.
The 3. number of the fragmenta phytographiae Australiae has been issued.
The second plate illustrating the Flora of Victoria is under progress.
7
B58.07.01.
8
B62.02.01. See Cavanagh (1988).
A list has been prepared of such botanical books as would be desirable for the Melbourne
public library in accordance to a request of the trustees.
9
List not found.
Mr Commissioner Cole
of Eustone, N.S.W., received from this office a report on a supposed poisenous grass
from the Darling river.
10
Stephen Cole, Euston, NSW.
Several letters on scientific or technical matters have been interchanged. The contributions
during the month have been manyfold and will be acknowledged in the annual report.
Our distributions were more numerous still; besides very many private gardens, which
were entitled to the supply, the following public institutions were provided with
plants during July viz. South Park, Church of England Grammar School, Police reserve
at Andersons Creek, Melbourne Hospital, the zoological Gardens, the Magnetic Observatory,
the Survey reserve at Camperdown, the Military Barracks, Portland botanic Garden,
Sandhurst denom. School ground.
One wardian Case with living plants was forwarded to Calcutta botan. Garden.
Ferd. Mueller, M.D., Ph.D.,
Gov. Botanist & Director of the bot Gardens.
Acacia
Araucaria