The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Garden ¶ 21/7/69 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ In compliance with your request I have the honor of reporting on Mr Carruthers proposition, to render the Zamias available for the preparation of starch and ...

Document information

Physical location:

U69/6467, unit 403, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 69.07.21

Plant names

Zamia
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Grant, 1869-07-21. 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/1860-9/1869/69-07-21-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Melbourne bot. Garden

21/7/69

Sir

In compliance with your request I have the honor of reporting on Mr Carruthers proposition, to render the s available for the preparation of starch and fibre through prison-labor.

For the details of the proposal put forward by William Carruthers see T5457, unit 403, VPRS 3391/P, PROV.

As far as the Colony Victoria is concerned this project cannot be carried out, in as much as the is not a native of this colony. It occurs neither in Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand, but it is to be found

to be found interlined; but M evidently then forgot to delete the phrase later in the sentence.

in some localities of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia to be found. That the s are yielding a sago-like starch is well known, as many experiments with the stems and fruits have shown, the starch being under careful manipulation separable from the acrid poisonous principle. I have rather recommended on various occasions (e.g. Exhibition essays)

e.g. B67.13.02, p. 11.

the as an article for export to the gardens of Europe, because it has been proved that the stems can be sent as ordinary merchandise for months oversea and will thrive their palmlike leaves again when plunged into a Forcing House. These stems are of slow growth and thus a plant, perhaps 100 years old, may at once be obtained for a conservatory by mere transmission, and a higher price would be realized for such stems for horticultural purposes than the value of the Sago and Fibre, without sacrificing the plant.

I have the honor to be,

Sir, your very obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller

The honorable Jam. Macph. Grant, M.P.,

President of the Board of Land & Works

&c&c&c

P.S. The extreme abundance of is comparatively local, and in such localities doubtless Mr Carruthers would answer admirably. For dressing cotton fabrics our Wattle Gum is extensively available and a good deal exported.