Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS file annotation by unknown: 'See minute'. No minute is attached.

Melbourne bot Garden

10/6/73

Sir

I have the honor of transmitting herewith 37 lots of young trees, 20 in each lot, in accordance with the memorandum from the Lands Department.

2

Memorandum not found.

I wish it however to be distinctly understood, that the Director of the bot. Garden does not concur in the limitation adopted and in the equality of supply to each school, whether much or little ground is prepared, and I should consider it an act of justice towards myself, if you will inform the recipients, that the quantity was not fixed by me. Otherwise the blame and disappointment, which is sure to arise about this manner of supply,

3

'I should ... this supply' marked by a single line in margin and annotated, probably by A. Wallis: 'Not necessary Applicants have been infd that the minister of Agriculture cannot supply any more — 13.6.73.'

M was blamed in the public press. A teacher at Parupa, near Lake Bolac, reported to the local correspndent of the Hamilton spectator that although he had complied with an Education Department's circular and ordered plants for the school grounds by 13 April 1873, 'not a sign of a plant has yet come to hand. However, although the curator of the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne is so very dilatory in sending a package — which might be done in an hour—the school ground will not be destitute of some ornament' as plants had been supplied by the Geelong Botanic Garden (Hamilton spectator, 25 June 1873, p. 4).

will necessarily fall on me, notwithstanding my professional remonstration against the measure. Perhaps the teachers might be informed, that they ought to consider this the first instalment from my nurseries in this season.

Under the circumstances I thought it best, to select only such plants, as would require merely Calico for packing, it being not worth while to procure for 20 young plants a case.

H. Venables Esq. M.A.,

Secretary to the Department of Education.