Melbourne bot. Garden,
30/11/65
Sir
I have the honor to draw your favorable consideration to the circumstance, that the
time has arrived, when with advantage experiments on the culture of the
e (the plants yielding peruvian bark) may be instituted on a larger scale in this
country. From my last annual report,
presented to you, it will be apparent, that most likely the
e would endure our climate in the mild humid air of the fern tree gullies. Should
my anticipation be realized a most important and lucrative commodity will be added
to our indigenous material of husbandry and to our articles of exportation. From a
letter, received by last mail from H. E. Sir Will. Denison, the Governor of Madras,
it appears, that in the
plantations of the Neilgherri
hills, established four years ago, now annually 100 per cent will be realized on
the capital spent in farming and maintaining the plantations. Allowing that our climate
will not prove as genial to the
e as the air of the mountains of the Madras Presidency and allowing also that the
labour expense would compare unfavorably with that of India, it must still be admitted
from the accurate data and calculations submitted by the Governor of Madras, that
a large profit is likely to accrue from the yield of Peruvian bark in plantations
formed in this country. I feel therefore justified to recommend my proposition, to
establish a
garden in one of the fern tree vallies, readily accessible from the city to your
most favorable consideration. I should have urged the formation of such an establishment
before, had the means presented themselves earlier than this moment to effect planting
of
e in Victoria extensively; but only this year the plants commenced ripening seeds
in India and therefore only now facilities are afforded for obtaining enough of the
e for entering practically upon their culture. I have however imported some years
ago some living plants, have kept them under ordinary shelter in this garden, am encouraged
by what I saw of their growth and have constructed pits for their multiplication.
In wishing to give real effect to my proposition the difficulty presents itself to
provide permanently for small experimental establishments, such as proposed, in the
ranges. The botanic Garden is so much larger than those in other colonies as to involve
a proportionately larger expenditure; it is moreover combined with a scientific branch,
which though unexpensive compared with the results of its labors, and to the ordinary
outlay of the garden; the garden furthermore is taxed with furnishing supplies for
several hundred public institutions annually, thus supplying at an average 60,000
plants and 70,000 papers of seeds a year, and lastly the garden has out of its ordinary
vote supported the pine plantations and those of the other timber trees, many thousands
of which have formed (as will be noted on reference to the plan of my last report
a permanent place in the extensive Gov. House reserve with a view of obtaining large
masses of fresh seeds for future forest-culture. Next year the resources of the establishment
under my charge will additionally be taxed by a series of experiments of a technological
and chemical nature into the products and educts of timber, such as oils, naphtha,
tar, alkalies, pyrolignous acid, paper material &c. A laboratory for the purpose will
be immediately constructed. Hence I find it impossible to carry on with the resources
at my command the establishment of experimental plantations in country districts,
especially as one single locality would not suffice for these trials, but as for
e a place is to be sought in the fern tree country, for cotton in the Murray-valley,
for subtropical plants in the palmtree country of East Gippsland and for plants of
the coldest inhabited zone in our snowy mountains. Each of these plantations for practical
trials must be comparatively large; the ground requires to be fenced; a hut should
be erected and an intelligent gardener or labourer be placed in charge of the place,
not merely to prepare the ground & place in it the plants, but also to protect the
latter hereafter against native animals, thefts, overgrowth of weeds For the cinchona
plantation I have selected sites on the Mount Macedon ranges; one of which could be
occupied by plants of Chinese tea additionally. It appears not likely, that the proposed
plantations can be connected advantageously with the industrial schools on account
of the isolated sites of each plantation, the objects being to test the influences
of the climatically most diversified conditions on eminently useful plants. I have
in vain endeavoured to point out, how the proposed plan might be realized, if it meets
with the approval of my honorable chiefs at all, unless by a special vote. If it is
the intention to institute at once these experiments in the four different climatic
regions indicated, not less than £200 for each spot or £800 altogether would be needed
to carry out the objects for the first year and half the sum for a series of years
subsequently, if fair prospects and ultimate success are to be gained. In the Madras
Presidency the Government has spent on
plantations alone during the last four years £21,270.
It would also be needful to learn from Government, whether these experimental Gardens
could be most advantageously brought under the surveillance of my office or under
the administration of any other department.
I am most willing to select the land in the different spots and carry out in my department
the arrangements and disburse the fund and attend to the superintendence, if the Government
will entrust the whole to my care and my responsibility; or I shall gladly furnish
advise to any other department, which you may deem more worthy to assume the new duties
thus arising. If under a special vote these duties will devolve on myself, I beg that
my manuscript schedules for the estimates of 1866 may be returned to me, that the
needful additions may be made.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your most obedient
Ferd. Mueller
The honorable the Chief Secretary
&c&c&c
