Ferdinand von Mueller

31/7/89

1

D ate stamped: Royal Gardens Kew — 9 Sep. 89. Annotated in pencil by D. Oliver D. O. a nd in red ink by Thiselton- Dyer: And 22.9.89 and List 10.10.89 (neither letter nor list has been found).

By this mail, dear Mr Dyer, I send you specimens of all the kinds of ferns, gathered by Sir Will MacGregor in his ascent of the Owen Stanley's Ranges,

2

Papua New Guinea. See Argus, 15 July 1889, p. 5.

an exploit, which I had urged for many years, and the importance of which I impressed in a personal interview here on his Honor. As Mr Carruthers works on Mr Forbes's Papuan ferns, I have sent to the British Museum a second set; — and you can of course make special arrangements with Mr Carruthers for dealing at Kew scientifically with these ferns, those from the subalpine heights being particularly interesting

3

See M to W. Carruthers, 31 July 1889 (in this edition as 89-07-31a). In the division of responsibility for the description and enumeration of the specimens collected by Henry Forbes in British New Guinea during 1885-1886, the ferns were reserved for Carruthers; see M to E. Strickland, 10 October 1885, and M to W. Carruthers, 21 October 1885 (in this edition as 95-10-21a).

To Dr Masters I will send for the Gardeners-Chronicle a few hurried notes on the genera, represented in the cold zone of New Guinea, the commigration being very remarkable and significant.

4

B90.06.01.

A set of the Phanerogams from Sir Will. MacGregor's last expedition will also be sent to Kew; so soon as elaborated.

5

B90.06.04.

The specimens are however in a poor state, and represent not very many sp. as they had to be carried down the steep declivities through the wet jungles in the empty provision-bags. From this melange , I prepared the specimens. I will see, that this alpine exploration of New Guinea is followed up, so far as I can speed it, but to prepare good bot. specimens in early explorations is very diffcult indeed.

Lycopodiaceae I have only sent to you.