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M69.12.18Preferred Citation:
'Pruning Knife' to the Editor of the Weekly Times, 1869-12-18 [M69.12.18]. 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/mentions/selected/M69-12-18-final.odt>, accessed August 19, 2026
1
Letter not found. The text given here is from Weekly times (Melbourne), 18 December 1969, p. 7. The version in 'Pruning Knife' (1870) differs
in punctuation and has a small number of minor text emendations. The pamphlet is the
collected and republished text of this and the two preceding letters to the Editor,
in this edition as M69-12-04 and M69-12-11.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY TIMES.
Sir
,—The public scientific career of Dr. Mueller dates from the time of Governor Latrobe.
Dr. Mueller, being at that period a "peripatetic philosopher," was engaged by Mr.
Latrobe as "Government botanist," to arrange and compile a "Flora of Victoria" within
the definite space of three years. Mr. Latrobe finished his course soon after was
succeeded by Sir Charles Hotham, who at once dispensed with Dr. Mueller's services,
as being unnecessary and superfluous. Upon the death of Sir Charles Hotham and the
advent of Sir Henry Barkly, Dr. Mueller and his friends managed, in those wild times
of official extravagance, to secure his (Dr. Mueller's) reappointment as Government
botanist, and very soon after as director of the Botanical Gardens. Thus placed in
possession of a high position and almost unlimited means, Dr. Mueller has for many
years used them so well for his own benefit, that he has hitherto been able and still
endeavours to defy public opinion and the Ministerial head of his department. The
first Government of Mr. Heales endeavoured to curtail the extravagance of the Botanical
Gardens, and introduce the needful practical skill; but they were defeated, mainly
through the adroit parliamentary tactics of Dr. Greeves. Since then, no other Government
has had the courage to attempt the cleansing of the Augean stable, until the present
Minister of Lands grappled with the hydra, and it is much to be hoped that all "good
men and true" will support him to a successful result.
Dr. Mueller has established a Botanical Museum, but it is wholly useless to anybody
but himself; it is inaccessible to the public, except under circumstances which most
effectually preclude any educated persons from attempting to avail themselves of the
vast stores of material for "phytological research" which, we are informed in themystifying
"reports" of the Government botanist, it contains. It is simply a large cupboard for
keeping Dr. Mueller's dried specimens in. Dr. Mueller has published two works, one
the "Flora of Victoria," a most expensive work, and a smaller one written in Latin,
and rejoicing in the astounding title of "Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australiæ." Now,
Sir, I do not pretend to criticise those works, they are doubtless very good; but
what use are they to the colony? The British Government, long since, commissioned
the celebrated botanist, Mr. Bentham, to compile a comprehensive work on the Australian
flora, and from the ample stores of information available to that gentleman, there
is no doubt but that the work will be worthy of its author. Dr. Mueller has managed
to get himself somewhat associated with Mr. Bentham, and a good many of the "treasures"
of the Botanical Gardens Museum have been sent to London, with the ostensible view
of assisting in the preparation of the work; but I question very much if Mr. Bentham
has derived much real assistance from them. A synopsis of Mr. Bentham's work is all
that for many years would be necessary to the student in Victoria; while, regarding
the Latin work with the long name, no sensible man would for one moment hesitate to
say that it is perfectly useless to the Victorian public—in fact, it was never meant
for them, but solely for exportation, and to spread the name and fame of its author
in continental scientific circles. The science of the Botanical Gardens has assumed
no popular form whatever. There never have been any lectures delivered from it; no
handbooks intelligible to ordinary minds have emanated from Dr. Mueller's pen. The
popular British flora of Sir W. J. Hooker, "The School Botany" and "Theory of Horticulture"
of John Lindley have no counterpart here; and so far as the light of botanic science
as applied to the life and labours of 999 in the 1,000 of the population of Victoria
is concerned, it is and ever has been at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens "hid under
a bushel."
A chemical department and chemist have been of late years added to the means at the
disposal of Dr. Mueller; but the results are yet to come. Much noise was made about
the great discoveries that would be effected in the way of gums and resins from native
plants and timber, the extraction of essential oils, and the discovery of tissue and
fibres available for paper and cordage manufacturing; but Mr. Bosisto, of Richmond,
and Mr. Cosmo Newbery claim priority in these matters, and have, I believe, nearly
exhausted the subject; at any rate, the results of the Laboratory at the Botanical
Gardens are very mythical up to the present time. It is, Sir, no use mincing the matter
further; the whole of Dr. Mueller's science is and has been solely applied for the
purpose of building up his European fame. I do not say that this is an improper motive
by any means, but the Victorian taxpayers, who have to pay for it all, may be excused
for feeling indignant that the vast resources of money and other means ostensibly
provided for the purpose of making and maintaining a beautiful and practically useful
public garden, should have been for so many years frittered away upon visionary crotchets
or schemes having only one object in view, that of extending and maintaining, in most
instances by the most mendacious puffery, the name and fame of Dr. Von Mueller, &c.
PRUNING KNIFE.