Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. For the text given here, see Victorian express (Geraldton, WA), 22 June 1889, p. 5 (B89.06.01). Elliott forwarded M's letter, 'lately received', to the Victorian express, 'as I would like to make his wishes therein expressed as widely known as possible. ...The eminent botanist is personally known to many West Australians and to not a few in this district, and all his friends are aware of the deep interest he takes in the flora of this colony'.

Dear Dr Elliott. —

When I had the pleasure of meeting you again in Melbourne, you requested me to send you a memorandum about the requirements of my department from your regions; and as you evince such an enlightened interest in the objects thus far to be accomplished there, I now beg to point out what is especially needed.

1. — We know hardly anything, or but very little of the seaweeds of Champion Bay.

2

WA.

At the only time, when I was there, none were washed up.

3

M visited Champion Bay during his visit to WA in late 1877.

The locality seemed, however, a good one for Algs, to judge from the few sent me by Mrs Gale.

4

No correspondence between M and this lady has been found.

If therefore after a storm many sorts of sea-weed are washed up at these shores perhaps the youths there could be induced to collect some good specimens of each sort, even the smallest kinds, which might be placed on mantlepieces, or boards, or roofs for drying crisply (by occasional turning) without using pressure. Such crisp specimens would come in small bundles, cross-tied, readily by post. I can resoak them here to prepare them on paper. Of course if any one will float the delicate or the gelatinous sorts out on paper, all the better. From time to time I could send you £5 by post-office money order, so that adequate payment, according to results, could be rendered to the gatherers. Not only would new sorts of algs be likely to be found, but it would then also become ascertained, whether the oceanic plants of W.A. reach as far north as Champion Bay; also, whether any tropical sea-weeds come down so far south. Perhaps your kind lady has friends in other coast places further north, who could be induced to collect sea-weeds and indeed oceanic grasses too, Professor Harvey not having come further north for his local studies than Swan River.

5

W. H. Harvey spent several months in WA in 1854.

2 — Altho' the whole country of Swan River is yet but imperfectly searched for land plants, and fresh water plants of any kind, nothing would come amiss, and I would particularly ask that settlers on the Upper Murchison River and those living in the vicinity of Mt. Russell, Weld Spring, and elsewhere far east or N.E. should be asked to collect all sorts of small plants for small payments of mine, or in exchange for seeds of kitchen vegetables. The grassy downs even are particularly rich in small weeds during the spring; all these plants are important for studying the geographic distribution of the various species. Any plants from distances could easily be brought in to the station by aborigines, in baskets. The record of locality would be new for each kind of plants from these regions, and every finder will get in my works credit for his respective discoveries. Indeed, I would despatch a special collector to these wide tracts of country, of which the vegetation is almost entirely unknown, did my departmental or private means admit of it. To render the task of securing, drying and transmitting specimens an easy one by post, I have forwarded you for distribution envelopes into which flowering or fruiting sprigs could be thrust of any sort of plants, the envelopes being large enough to put a dozen sorts of specimens miscellaneously into each. Such envelopes, with their miscellaneous contents would readily dry on a mantlepiece, or in a sunny place, or in a kitchen, and tied together the envelopes would come cheaply by post. In the little school books sent herewith,

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B77.13.07?

the wood cuts show what is required as regards size of specimens, and their flowering or fruiting state. Herbs, grasses, daisies, &c., &c., gathered near the grassy downs will be welcome. Will the ladies of Champion Bay write a few lines to their friends on the Upper Murchison, and beyond, to plead my cause.

As I am bringing out an Atlas on the Salt Bushes of Australia,

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B89.13.04, B90.13.14, B91.13.24.

I should be very much beholden if the settlers would send me (from the interior particularly) sprigs of any salsolaceous plants. Of about 50 W.A. acacias the fruits are not yet known; sprigs therefore of these kinds of plants would be very welcome, as those would help gradually to complete the Atlas of acacias, of which 130 plates have already appeared.

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B87.13.04 and B88.13.01; there were 118 plates of Acacia spp, and 12 plates of cognate genera.

Kindly look at the wood cuts of

Acacia Pravissima

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and A. Mitchelli, as they will show what is wanted.

9

Figures 50 and 51 in B86.13.01.

Perhaps somebody going up into the interior might call on you, and have a glance at the wood cuts.

For a series of years, dear Dr. Elliott, I have vainly endeavoured to obtain living plants, or germinable seeds of the true

Verticordia

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s from the Sandplains between the Geraldine Mine and the Greenough River. As this tract is within your official area, you might likely know some people there who about Easter would send you fresh a few branches of each of these two

Verticordia

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s, wrapped up at once. If these were forwarded speedly by post from your place enveloped in some air and water-tight substance they would likely remain suple and retain sufficient sap so that I might make the first experiment of getting these two most beautiful plants of W.A. to grow from cuttings under a bell-glass with bottom heat here. Perhaps I could be supplied also with shrivelled flowers which about Easter ought to have formed their tiny seeds within. Would you oblige me in this particular! If so I would be particularly beholden to you.