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VPRS 5486/PO/4, no. 13 official inward correspondence, VA 928 Melbourne Public Library, Public Record Office, Victoria. 69.09.10a

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Ferdinand von Mueller to Redmond Barry, 1869-09-10 [69.09.10a]. 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/1860-9/1869/69-09-10a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Melbourne botanic Garden,
10/9/69.
Since some time ago, dear Sir Redmond, I intended to have written to you fully on the requirements of the phytological branch of the industrial Museum, but my time has been increasingly occupied lately with the ordinary departmental duties, and besides the whole subject is so large, that it is not easily approached in all its bearings.
The first difficulty which presents itself to my mind is the utter helplessness , in which I find myself in doing anything at the Exhibition Building. It is true you kindly arranged for the aid of the two attendents there, who helped me one Sunday very readily. It is not the less true that you wish me to send in requisition for cases &c. But you can readily feel, that it would be impossible for me to be always at the building to direct the work of the attendants, who themselves are not acquainted with the work to be carried out. And then again until some proper safe place for the accommodation of the vegetable articles is provided nothing can be measured out in the form of fittings, glass-cases, stages &c
In first instance I would suggest then, that the floors roof and windows in the annex are fully prepared. Then space would be safely available for the rougher articles , such as timber, crude fibres, wood implements &c &c
2, Grant of a limited sum, perhaps fifty pounds (£50.- .-) to be disbursed by me in engaging the assistance of a man occasionally, who is conversant with the woods, and who can secure from artisans &c such additions as are obtainable in the city. This all cannot possibly be done by an ordinary employee at the exhibition building.
3, Grant of some means to cut the timber specimens at the Exhibition building into shape, to repolish them &c, to have labels painted for them &c. Altho' a Carpenter is employed, I believe, at the Exhibition-building & public Library, I cannot but recommend that I may be entrusted with engaging a carpenter specially for this work. It will extend over some considerable time, and in the present state of the annex & while so much fitting work is also
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to omitted?
be done in the main Exhibition building it is quite impossible for one carpenter to attend as a byework also to the requirements of the timber. I should think, that under rigorous economy for thirty pounds (£30.- .-) a good deal might be done to the wood-specimens.
4, There are numerous glass vessels required for the reception of fibres, resins, gums, dyes, vegetable chemicals &c &c &c. I see no possibility to obtain such glass without an immense loss of time under a tender- or requisition system. What I would respectfully suggest, is to place a small sum (from five to ten pounds) for direct purchases of such glass-vessels at my disposal.
5, I report respectfully, what I already suggested in my last note,
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M to R. Barry, 2 September 1869.
that any empty glass-cases or other cases or glasses, suitable for the reception of drugs, fruitwares, and any other vegetable substances or casts, as may be available already at the Exhibition building be placed at my disposal, to save expenditure. Such cases &c could be temporarily used, and as gradually the collections increase, and as from time to time fund may be available, uniform accommodations could be provided for the exhibits.
6, If a collection of material medica is not already formed at the University, such collections could form a fitting part of the phytological series, and this portion of the articles might find best a place in a portion of the main exhibition building.
7, For the general collection of the vegetable substances the annex-building will not at all be to large, if we bear future requirements in mind especially as some space for lectures and demonstrations must be allowed. If this is conceded, the sooner the annex can be brought into a state of repair, the better.
8, One of the small bye buildings should be allotted a work-shop and lumber room of the vegetable section of the exhibition, as carpenters work labeling, cleaning, preparing exhibits must of necessity be going continually going on.
9, During the season fruit casts & models of vegetables &c should at least to a small extent be prepared. For this and for microscopical vegetable preparation, of which latter I can obtain fine sets in Germany a small sum would be needed, perhaps thirty pounds for the first year.
10, It would be desirable, partly for decoration, partly also for illustrations and instruction to secure pictures (not expensive) of landscapes illustrating special features of vegetation, further diagrams, shewing vegetable structures, further enlarged microscopic drawings, and also pictures of celebrated authors in material medica, phytography, vegetable anatomy, industrial applications of plants. That these must be obtained by direct purchase is evident. What sum would really be needed I cannot say finally, but a small beginning might be made in this.
11, I have in my laboratory 20 framed samples of paper made here, also a large lot of specimens of paper & past
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paste?
board made in Belgium, France & Germany from wood shavings &c (the foreign samples not framed), also a collection of vegetable acids, tars, woodspirits, charcoal, a few starches of native plants, some gums, resins, manna, dyeliquids &c, which could at once go to the main building , until the annex is put into secure repair and cleanliness, if cases and shelves can be provided or found for such be granted to me. However I beg to reserve for myself the right of dividing the quantity of these exhibits hereafter, as Mr Verdon will require a series of them in London at the Office building he occupies or perhaps at the Colonial Museum under the Colonial Society in London.
12 The agricultural Collections at the board of Agriculture would form part of the general vegetable collection, and I have given notice to move, that they be transferred to the new industrial Museum.
13. Provision will be needed for printed labels.
14. It seems also that no proper ventilation is secured at the annex, without in hot windy weather dust blowing copiously into the building.
15. I believe it is necessary that the floor laths in the annex should be pulled up and relaid, for the purpose of removing the accumulation of dirt under it.
16 For forming pyramids of wood & placing the planks into [...]
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The sentence ends abruptly with an illegible word or symbol.
These propositions, dear Sir Redmond, could have much been extended, but I have for the present said enough to show how a proper well working system of preparations could be commenced, but while I am most willing to superintend the formation of the vegetable section of the new museum, I cannot refrain from remarking, that it would neither be just nor encouraging to me, if the final arrangements were such as to involve unnecessary loss of time by complicate arrangements, or if by want of some direct trust in my judgement and economy needless additional toil was burdened on me.
I remain, dear Sir Redmond, your regardful
Ferd. von Mueller