Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botanical & zoologic Garden. — Monthly Report — for November 1858 .

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Registered, 3 December 1858.

Contributions of seeds or plants have been received from the bot. Gardens of Glasgow, Adelaide, from Mr F. Bailey of Wellington N.Z., from Capt Anderson of the Chatham Islands, and several less important contributions, also four large and very valuable plants for the Palm-house were received from Dr Howitt. A black Dingo was presented by All. Hugham Esq of Glenloth. Four large cases of living plants, purchased from Messrs Standish of London (an old & respectable firm) arrived in excellent order. From the Rev. T. Beamish we received 2 fine Emus. Our establishment supplied besides several minor contributions in seeds & plants, 9 Wardian Cases with plants destined for the following places: Ceylon 1, Batavia 1, Wellington 1, Cape of good hope 1, Port Natal 1, Mauritius 1, Kew 1, Adelaide 2.

H.R.H. Prince Paul William of Wuertemberg was supplied as well as Sir Will. Hooker of Kew and Prof Harvey of Dublin with botanical specimens.

Mr Dallachy continues collecting plants & seeds on the Murray.

The examination of plants at the herbarium as well as of the Garden has continued. All the specimens collected in New South Wales, Victoria & Tasmania by Prince Paul have been named.

The Central border of the Palm-house has been filled with soil from the Yarra-banks (after previous draining) & this fine building is now about 2/3 filled with plants already. About 200 painted Iron-labels have been provided during the month, besides a portion being under work in Collin wood.

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Collingwood.

A Iron-tank has been sunk at the wooden shade, spouts communicating the rain-water from the roof to it as well as from the Pavillion by underground pipes; a pump has been connected with it, to give an additional opportunity to visitors for obtaining drink-water.

The seed- and hay- harvest has commenced in the gardens. The Catalogues of our plants

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B58.11.02.

have been distributed in all directions for facilitating interchange. A neat little stable, kindfully granted to us by Capt Pasley, has been erected in the high ground of the paddock, by which means a shelter is provided for the expected Llama-Alpacas, and I would propose having them hearded by some juvenile keeper during the day in the paddock, if His Honor the Chief Secretary thought advisable to entrust these valuable animals to our care.

Brick gutters have been laid along several walks; some of the latter have been gravelled.

A supply of plants, chiefly trees, has been ordered from Messrs E. G. Henderson of St. John's Wood, Nurseryman to her Majesty, for the public parks, to the amount of £100.

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See M to C. Duffy, November 1858 (in this edition as 58-11-00d), and M to E. G. Henderson & Son, 15 December 1858 (in this edition as 58-12-15c).

The manuscript of the 4th Number of the fragmenta phytographiae Australiae

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B59.02.03.

has been transmitted to the Gov. Printing Office. Three additional plates for the Flora of Victoria are under preparation.

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B62.02.01. Cavanagh (1988) interprets this report as meaning that by now four plates were either finished, or in preparation.

The band of the 40 Regiment recommenced playing at the Gardens and attracted as before numerous visitors. Altho' the Director will be happy to provide for the musicians as he has done throughout the last season some refreshment on his own private expense, it appears that the exertions of the band week after week deserves some more substantial acknowledgement. He would therefore take the liberty to enquire, whether it would not be desirable to devote a small sum (perhaps from 50-100 £) from any surplus fund of 1858 as a remuneration to be distributed between the Bandmaster & the ordinary members of the band, from 20-30 of them being in attendance.

The other garden and office work has been of usual routine.

The number of Sunday Visitors entering at the principle gates has been in October not less than: 24,628, in November on account of less favorable weather 12,234. The total of the Visitors in both months may be estimated as about 45,000.