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95.07.00b

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Ferdinand von Mueller to John Quick, 1895-07 [95.07.00b]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-07-00b-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

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Letter not found. The text given here is from a report of the meeting of the Bendigo Sericulture Association held on 10 August 1895, Bendigo advertiser, 12 August 1895, p. 3 (B95.08.12). It is introduced by 'Dr. Quick said that in accordance with instructions received at the last meeting, he had written to Baron Von Mueller and Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, director of the Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, asking for information respecting oil producing plants. From Baron Von Mueller he had received the following:—.'
The previous meeting had been held on 13 July 1895 ( Bendigo advertiser , 15 July 1895. p. 3). M's letter is therefore dated to July, as the most probable month in which it was written.
I will be happy to aid in any way for extending rural industries in your district, and as you thoughtfully suggest also in the cultivation of oil plants. In my work on "Select Plants for Industrial Culture," the principal oil-yielding plants have also been noted, and as the ninth edition (again enlarged) will appear in the beginning of August,
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B95.08.04
I will send you then a copy, the oil plants being easily found out by the index. As regards plants for pressing oil from seeds (not from pulp as in the case of the olive) a necessity presents itself to induce some enterprising man to set up an oil mill locally, and to insure from farmers an adequate supply of oil seeds to keep the mill going. An oil mill has recently been established in Melbourne, and it may therefore also be advisable to ascertain at what price oil seeds would be purchased by the owners of the mill here, and to what extent particular seeds respectively would be disposed of from your district. The farmers could then calculate how far the growing of any sort of oil plants there would prove remunerative. The "Select Plants" would give an insight into the prospects of any other new cultures therein
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there in?
the particular clime and soils of your region. It would be a good plan for four ruralists to commence test cultures on a small scale for one season, the results of which would then be turned to safe account for further, more intensive and therefore commercial operations. The extensive move in planting in your vicinity is most creditable and cheering.
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The report concludes 'On the motion of Mr. Maher the letter was received, and a vote o! thanks passed to Baron Von Mueller.' Letter conveying vote of thanks not found.