Document information

Physical location:

Library, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Mss Coll. No. 164. 86.02.22

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Meehan, 1886-02-22. 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/1880-9/1886/86-02-22-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

22/2/86
This time, dear Professor Meehan, I send you some xylographic illustrations, made on various woods of New South Wales, where Mr Augustus Rudder has instituted these experiments.
1
See A. Rudder to M, 14 August 1885 and A. Rudder to M, 1 November 1885.
Perhaps you could show these at the Academy of natural sciences, where they may be of interest, especially as some of these trees are already in culture as well in California as in your southern states. [They]
2
word omitted in going from one page to the next?
are indicative of the value of allied species of woods. Mr Rudder deserves every praise for these efforts in that particular direction. In connection with this I may observe, that I have urged repeatedly trials with the several of West India for wood-engraving. Mr Rudder’s present experiments are in connection with the wood-specimens, to be shown by New South Wales at the forth coming London Exhibition
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At the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London 1886, the NSW Minister for Mines showed, in class 46b, Indigenous timber and other forest products, ‘Woods considered suitable for engraving, prepared for the Engraver, and with Engravings thereon to show their adaptability for the purpose’ (Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886), p. 172). A list of the species used is in New South Wales Commission to Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886), pp 220-21.
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
I hope to send you soon my illustrations of the , 76 species on as many plates, all of horticultural value
4
B86.08.05. In addition to publications, M regularly sent herbarium specimens: see for example, M to Asa Gray, 20 December 1871; and Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 39, 1887, p 435, where the Academy records in its list of additions to its museum: 'Baron F. von Müller, Melbourne, Australia; through Thomas Meehan, 471 species Australian plants, mostly new to the collection'.
Your excellent monthly
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Meehan was editor of Gardeners monthly and horticulturist (Philadelphia).
is always most welcome.