Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 80.03.11

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Joseph Hooker to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1880-03-11. 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/1880-9/1880/80-03-11-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
MS embossed with crest of Royal Gardens Kew. MS annotation by M: 'Answ 12/5/80 FvM'; see M to J. Hooker, 13 May 1880.
March 11 /80
My dear Von Mueller
The person to address on the subject of Miers' death
2
See M to J. Hooker, 31 December 1879 (in this edition as 79-12-31a).
is his son John Miers Jr. — an Engineer who had the construction of important works at Rio & now lives in England having still busness connections I believe with Brazil.
Many thanks for the nice collection of seeds just received. I am particularly glad of the
Grevillea annulifera

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.
3
See M to J. Hooker, 8 January 1880.
We have had a very deplorable winter after a cold drenching summer. For two months we could do no garden work, & now the weather has changed suddenly & the buds are bursting just when I have an immense deal of transplanting to do.
This winter finishes my arrangement of the Arboretum — & I have just planted the
Castanea

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s & Coryli in the places they will permanently occupy, & am proceeding with
Fagus

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,
Ostrya

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, &
Carpinus

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as fast as I can. — It has been a twelve years job this planting the Arboretum. That formed by my father was all but ruined by the carelessness of the foreman of the ground, & the fact that he was not allowed to cut down any trees or to buy good soil! The noble collection he brought together was consequently dislocated starved overgrown & denuded of names.
I wish that more of your Australian plants would stand our climate, but you may count on your fingers all that will I put many against a sheltered South wall 2-3 years ago, but this winter has killed them all
Eucalyptus polyanthemos

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alone defies the winter, owing no doubt to its roots being deep in the Earth. E. globulus has never stood 2 winters — one unnamed Tasmanian alpine one has dragged out a miserable existence for near 30 years but is a scare-crow.
Ever sincerely yr
J D Hooker