Document information

Physical location:

MS 8692, box 943/1(a), La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. 64.05.20c

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Tharp Girdlestone, 1864-05-20 [64.05.20c]. 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/1860-9/1864/64-05-20c-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne, botanic Garden
20/5/64.
My dear Dr Girdlestone
1
Girdlestone was MLA for Ararat in the Victorian Parliament.
Mr Lane
2
D. J. Lane, Town Clerk of Borough of Ararat, Vic.
desired me to send the plants intended for the Ararat Cemetery to you. The 2 cases now forwarded contains 400. miscellaneous carefully selected plants, and should these not prove sufficient for the ground prepared for the reception of plants this season I can send more Cypresses & some other plants suitable for burial places. It would however be then well, that the precise number of plants needed should be stated & if possible obtained any morning at 9 within the next two weeks at my nurseries.
Our plants of N. Zealand flax did not produce seeds this year; but I have sent some plants in the collection now forwarded to you.
With kind regards
yours
Ferd. Mueller
Will you kindly urge that the plants are unpacked & planted as early as possible.
3
On the reverse of this letter is a note from Girdlestone to Lane, dated 20 May 1864: 'I received this morning two large boxes for the Cemetery from Dr Mueller, what is to be done with them? They will soon be good for nothing if not planted. I forward his note — on other side.’