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R61/901, unit 749, VPRS 1189/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 61.01.31bPreferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Richard Heales, 1861-01-31 [61.01.31b]. 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/1860-9/1861/61-01-31b-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
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MS file annotation by the Under Secretary, J. Moore: 'Read'.
31. Jan 1861
Sir
I have the honor of submitting to you the monthly report on the labours and proceedings
in this establishment during January 1861.
In the beginning of the month I returned from my excursion to the South Western parts
of the alps, a succinct account of its results being submitted to your Honor in my
annual report. Mr Dallachy has been engaged for about a week in the Dandenong ranges
for the purpose of obtaining large quantities of seeds of Eucalypti for transmission
to Jerusalem, a consignment of Acaciae Seeds having been forwarded already by last
mail to the same destination for the purpose of raising timber in the treeless wastes
of the holy land. An importation of seeds from various continental Gardens has taken
place by the "Mary Ross" under the friendly aid of Dr Sonder of Hamburgh. The British
Consul at the Fiji Islands, Mr Pritchard, has favoured us also with a contribution
to the garden, consisting in living specimens of palms & pines from that island-group.
An extensive distribution of the teaseeds, kindly forwarded by the Governor of Hong
kong to this establishment, has commenced.
Some time was devoted by myself and my assistant this month in removing the whole
extensive collections of dried plants into the repositories of the botanical Museum.
Of the plant, suspected to have caused the death of so many sheep in the northern
districts of South Australia, specimens have been submitted to me for examination,
proving it to be the Lotus Australis, a herb by no means rare in many parts of Victoria.
Empirical trials of its effects will be instituted by a meeting of professional gentlemen,
whom I have called together for the purpose.
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See M to R. MacDonnell, 2 March 1861 (in this edition as 61-03-02a).
Interchanges of plants & seeds with other gardens have with alacrity been kept up.
The garden work has been that of the season. The formation of the second main walk
in our northern ground is under progress.
Five additional plates for my work on the plants of Victoria
have been furnished, but the letter press was not proceeded with on account of many
more urgent engagements in my establishment drawing my attention in an other direction.
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B62.02.01.
A magnificent addition to the animals of the gardens has taken place by the arrival
pr. "Prince of Wales" of 3 White Swans, 6 large Chinese Geese, 6 Canadian Geese, 3
Egyptian Geese, 2 Brent Geese, 4 Curassows, 12 Silver pheasants, 12 Gold pheasants
8 English pheasants, 18 English wild ducks, 2 Wigeon Ducks, 9 Shell-ducks, 7 call
ducks, 6 Carolina ducks, 10 King doves & 6 Ortelans, all transmitted by Edw. Wilson
Esq, part of these birds being a donation of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.
Three Emus, three Ornitho-rhyncus,
2 Fiji Island Pigeons, 3 Eagles, 2 Spoonbill ducks, an Indian Porcupine, a monkey
and a Native Bear have been presented by various donors.
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Platypus.
Two Wardian Cases with plants were forwarded to the Gov. Botanic Garden at Brisbane
and one to the botanic Garden of Adelaide.
A pair of Wombats was shipped to the Société d'acclimatation of Paris by the "Copenhagen".
Amongst the useful seeds imported are those of the Aegle Marmelos; its fruit being
of great value as an antidysenteric remedy.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient and humble servant
Ferd. Mueller
The honorable the Chief Secretary
Acacia
Aegle Marmelos
Eucalyptus
Lotus Australis