Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne botan. Garden

24/10/68.

Through the kindness of a Swedish Nobleman,

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Not identified.

who returns to his native country, I have a fair opportunity of sending you a package of plants, dear Professor Andersson, for your Museum. I knew only a few days before the Baron's departure, that I could thus communicate with you. Otherwise the collection might have been made very much more extensive. You will receive simultaneously some seeds for your conservatory in the botanic Garden. If you could find out a London Merchants House connected with Swedish trade, which House would in an inexpensive way see to the transshipment of any consignments from here, I could send far more contributions, as well phytological as zoological to the institutions of your country. Hitherto I have been deterred from doing so, by the expenses, which arise to your institutions in London, even if I pay, as I always did, the freight as far as England. Swedish vessels, as you will be aware, go never direct home from here, whereas you have great facilities for quick sending by the many ships, which bring the Pine timber from your country.

Some weeks ago I received 2 copies of the volume of the prodromus of D.C., which contains your admirable essay or enumeration of the Salices,

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Andersson (1868).

which plants you have studied with so much zeal.

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W. Sonder to N. Andersson, 24 March 1858, refers to Andersson's having completed the revision of the North American Salices, and in another letter, 23 April 1858, to having dispatched a parcel of his own Salices on loan to Andersson who, as Sonder had heard, had also received J. D. Hooker's Salices on loan (Andersson Saml., Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm).

Probably you cultivate many species. If this is so, I should feel extremely grateful, if you would send me plants of as many species, just when the leaves drop in the autumn. If packed horizontally among moss in a close case they will make the voyage to Australia quite in safety as ordinary good. It requires care to have the moss almost dry, as otherwise the plants will get decayed during the three months voyage. Let me know, what I can send you specially from here.

Trusting that your eyesight is quite restored, I remain, dear Professor, your very regardful