Ferdinand von Mueller

25/9/63.

Dear Dr Hooker.

I resume our somewhat interrupted correspondence by a few hurriedly written lines, as I am very anxious to get through your influence as one of the jurors of the last national Exhibition

1

International Exhibition, London, 1862; Hooker was a juror for ‘Vegetable Substances used in Manufactures, &c.’; see International Exhibition, London 1862 (1863), Class IV, Section C, p.1.

a complete set of the reports on the Vegetable products or at least of those of Victoria. As the Colony has gone really to a very great expense in preparing & transmitting what was sent, we are anxious to derive for the benefit of our community as much information as we can from the exhibition, especially as many of the articles exhibited are calculated to add to our exports & our wealth. Mr Osborne whom you so kindly supported writes from Berlin about the jurors reports on the essential oils, which must have been printed long ago; and yet not even the Victorian Government nor myself have received a single copy of this document.

2

International Exhibition, London 1862 (1863), Class IV, Section D, ‘Perfumery’, included (pp. 8-9) a review of exhibits from the Australian colonies, among them ‘some very interesting specimens of new essential oils distilled by two Melbourne chemists under the superintendence of Dr. Mueller, the able director of the Botanical Gardens’.

I am quite anxious to go on with these practical researches, but would like to collect all information obtainable on the subject[.] I just became reminded by one of my officers, that at least 6 Wardian Cases of our must still be at Kew. Some I know brought their contents badly, but others arrived fairly; now would you not kindly cause some good things from your cornu copiae of treasures to be poured out to us? Even if only a good variety of Willows & Rubi were sent. Such are useful & few species as yet imported into this country.

Of the newer gesneriaceous plants we have also but very little. Our community in its rapid strides for progress are always impatient in advance & it is difficult to satisfy them unless there is an abundant show of new useful plants going on and where have I to appeal to, if the richest of all establishments not supports my garden? I should have sent more life plants long since, but have no Cases.

Pray do what you can.

In haste but with cordiality the best wishes for you from your