Document information
Physical location:
C61/3273, unit 706, VPRS 44/P inward registered and unregistered correspondence, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 61.04.17Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to John Brooke, 1861-04-17. 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/1860-9/1861/61-04-17-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026
Melbourne botanic & zoologic Garden,
17. April 1861.
Sir
In compliance with your request I have examined the fibre, submitted by Jam. Woolly Esq of Geelong to you for my inspection,
and I beg to inform you, that it is not a species of cotton, but is consisting of
the straight elastic seedhair of the Gomphocarpus, a genus of South African asclepiadeous
plants, not uncommon in our gardens.
1
On 15 April 1861, James Woolley of Geelong wrote to the President of the Board of
Land and Works, J. Brooke: 'As I see the subject of Cotton growing has been introduced
into the House and you having made answer on the part of the Government [see
Argus, 13 April 1861, p. 5, col. f], I beg to send the accompanying small sample grown
in Geelong and should be extremely obliged if you would cause the two bulbs and bloom
be sent to the Govt Botanist, whose opinion and description of the kind is particularly
desired, and would be gratefully received with thanks It was planted not knowing what
it was and allowed to grow merly [merely?] as an ornamental shrub, hot winds having no visible effect on it, and is
grown on dry sandy soil, whether it is a kind of cotton similar to the Moreton Bay
is what we wish to know. It is the finest kind I ever saw though I have had 15 years
experience in Cotton Manufacturing in England. I doubt whether it is as strong as
Sea Islands, and perhaps not as long in fibre, it is from one or two trees promiscuously
taken out of the bulk. I see some of the fibre is lo[nger] and stronger than others,
which perhaps has not all been [...] when gathered, and we wish Dr Muellers opinion
as to whether the bulbs and bloom are near perfection of their [...] it is the 2nd
year of their growth. The first years produce was of not much value inferior both
in color and quality'.
On 17 April 1861, Brooke annotated the file: 'Will Dr Mueller oblige me by sending his opinion of the
enclosed sample of cotton together with a Report on the subject generally of growing
Cotton in this Colony at his earliest convenience'.
These seedhair possess not the peculiar spiral twisting, which renders the genuine
Cotton so coherent and readily woven; nor does it appear, altho asclepiadeous plants
occur in very many parts of the globe, that their seedhair can be made advantageously
available for textile fabrics.
I may add, that the Gomphocarpi, when cultivated, prove here extremely subject to the attacks of the Aphis.
In regard to your request of adding on this occasion my opinion on the subject of
growing Cotton in this colony, it may probably be sufficient to append a copy of a
letter, adressed very recently by me on the above question to the Chamber of Commerce
of this City.
2
Letter to Chamber of Commerce not found, but see M to J. Brooke, 18 April 1861.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient servant
Ferd Mueller,
Gov. Botanist
The honorable J. Brooke Esq., M.L.A.,
President of the Board for Land and Works.
&c&c&c
Gomphocarpus