Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from the Perth gazette and West Australian times , 20 March 1868 (B68.03.06). It is introduced by 'THE following extracts of a letter received by the Colonial Secretary from Dr. Mueller, of Melbourne, have been kindly placed at our disposal for publication: —' It is dated to March 1868 by the reference to the sailing of Douglas from Melbourne for Fremantle 'a few days ago' (see note 4 below), and the date of publication of Astrotricha hamptoni (see note 3 below).

The sample of Gum, sent by you, for examination, is in all respects akin to the Gum Arabic of medicine and commerce, except in its not perfect solubility, a small portion remaining in suspension or settling down from the solution. We have in Australia many, or at least several, kinds of acaciae, which produce such gum abundantly, and this proved excellent for adhesive purposes and is not materially different from Senegal, Morocco, or Barbary Gum. Whenever the samples are not dark-colored this Australian gum ought to fetch as good a price in the market as the Senegal gum. The chemical reaction of this gum is slightly acid.

I feel greatly indebted for your kind transmission of the dried plants, secured in the Nickol Bay district by Mr. Charles Harper. The collection contains several novelties, the most interesting of which, a species of Astrotricha, I have as a public mark of respect dedicated to Dr. Hampton, your excellent Governor. No member of the order of Aralieareae

2

Araliaceae?

had been found formerly in West Australia. I hope to send the printed record of this plant and a lithogram by this mail.

3

M described Astrotricha hamptoni in B68.03.04, p. 125. The plant is illustrated as tab. LVIII.

I hope Mr. Harper and other settlers at Nickol Bay will thoughtfully continue to secure plants from their district, the vegetation of the mountain regions being very imperfectly known.

The Douglass left here a few days ago direct for Fremantle,

4

Douglas left Melbourne for Fremantle on 26 February 1868 (Argus, 26 February 1868, p. 4).

but unhappily I became not aware of her intended departure until at the last moment, and thus lost my chance of sending some cases full of living plants to you, as I so much wished. Mr. Taylor however, a resident of your colony here on a visit, has promised on his return a few months hence to take the surveillance over anything I may place under his care. Then the season will be also more favorable for the transmission of living plants

I renewed the experiment of sending eels to King George's Sound,

5

WA.

with the hope of better success. Cods and Hares we should certainly send you for naturalisation also. The specimens of plants from Mr Walcott arrived also safely. Count de Castelnau sent a box of coleoptera, which was to go to Western Australia, and which I ventured to direct to your friendly care by last mail.

You will be aware that Dextrine is used instead of Senegal Gum now extensively in the manufacture of printed Calicos, of paper, and for other purposes of dressing, sizing, dyeing, &c.