The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ Only at the ¶ ¶ end of last week ¶ ¶ I received the memorandum from the Assist. Commissioner concerning this question. ¶ On 22 October 1872, the Assistant Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey, ...

Document information

Physical location:

E72/22891, unit 352, VPRS 44/P inward registered and unregistered correspondence, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 72.10.26a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Casey, 1872-10-26 [72.10.26a]. 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/1870-9/1872/72-10-26a-final.odt>, accessed May 10, 2026

Only at the end of last week I received the memorandum from the Assist. Commissioner concerning this question.

On 22 October 1872, the Assistant Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey, C. Hodgkinson, wrote to Casey: 'I recently asked Baron Von Mueller to inform me what, in his opinion, was the cause of the decay of numerous young trees of Cupressus Macrocarpa in the Government House Domain, and in some of the Public Gardens under my control, but he has not favored me with a reply. I think this is a matter on which Baron Von Mueller, in his capacity as Government Botanist, should supply information. It is remarkable that whilst, in reserves under my control, numerous specimens of cupressus macrocarpa grown from young plants in pots obtained from Botanic Garden have thus decayed, none of the specimens grown from young plants obtained Brunning's nursery at St Kilda have suffered.' Casey minuted his response on 22 October as an instruction to M: 'Would the Govt Botanist be good enough to favor me with a report on this matter. I think he should have replied to the Asst Commissioners request.'

M to J Casey, 13 December 1872, is a more comprehensive report.

Since then I have uprooted several of the suffering Californian Cypresses to see, whether any additional light can be shed on the cause of their decay, and I shall give my opinion thereon in a few days. Most of these trees in Gov. House reserve and in the bot. Garden are in a healthy condition. If those furnished by Mr Brunning, for the Parks under the control of the Assistant Commissioner, are thriving at present better than those furnished by me, then I should think that they must have been planted on a different kind of soil or aspect, or they must have been treated differently in regard to watering &c, or they must be in a different stage of age.

Ferd von Mueller,

Director botanic Garden.

26/10/72.