To William Nicholson¹    30 November 1859

Melbourne bot. & zoologic Garden

30 November 1859.

Sir

I have the honor of submitting to you a report on the progress of the work in this establishment during the month of November.

Besides the ordinary routine-work in the Garden, the hay harvest has nearly been completed, the principle gathering of seeds commenced and a wall been built accross the swamp along our eastern fence for the better support of the iron fencing.

There have been several important contributions to our collection of plants, consisting — amongst minor donations — in cases with living plants from Mr Hulke of New Plymouth, N. Zealand, from Messrs Shepherd of Sydney, from Doctor Hillebrand of Honolulu and from Mr Tyesman,² Director of the botanic Garden of Buitenzorg, Java. Professor Dr. Asa Gray of Boston has forwarded the seeds of a lately discovered gigantic species of Cactus, which is in Mexico attaining the hight of 50 feet and yields edible fruits to the Indians.

To the Herbarium have been contributed from the same learned Gentleman, from Dr. Milligan of Hobarton, Mr Woolls of Paramatta and Dr. Beckler of Port Macquarie, besides what we collected ourselfes in the Garden or field. A Wardian Case with living plants was forwarded by us to Hobarton botanic Garden, an other to Mr Hulke of New Plymouth and a collection of dried plants to the Wuertenbergian Univ. itineraria³ for interchange.

Submitted have been to this Office also for examination the plants collected by Mr Macd. Stuart during his last expedition.⁴

The printing of the flora of Victoria⁵ has advanced to page 60 and that of the fragmenta phytographiae Australiae to page 210,⁶ some additional illustrations having during the month been furnished to both works.

The Menagerie is in a prosperous state, unless suffering to some extent from want of accommodations. Thus I believe, altho' the various English singing birds have commenced nesting, that their multiplying would be much greater if more space could be aforded them. The English Pheasants, in laying now, are likely to enable us to distribute this species soon wider over the country.

The yield of wool of one of our young & best Llamas was 4lb 9 ounces, which altho' not unconsiderable in itself is still falling very short to the clip of the true Alpacas, being besides inferior in quality. It will thus be percieved, how valuable an addition the new Alpaca ram is to our flock. The fleece shorn from our best Alpaca ram weighed 4 1/4lb, besides which about 3lb afterwards spontaneously separated. I beg to avail myself of asking at this opportunity the Governments permission of sending two of the four Angora Goats born this season as an acknowledgement of the donation of the Alpaca to the Government of N.S. Wales.⁷

I would also bring under the consideration of the Government, how desirable it would be to secure the 6 Dromedaries, lately imported by private speculation, for this establishment. For altho' we expect to obtain 12 Camels and 12 Dromedaries through our emissary⁸ from India in the course of a few month, it must remain very doubtful, whether in a sailing vessel these animals will all safely arrive; and even if this hope is realized, it will be of great value to the forthcoming Victorian Expedition to command the use of as large a number as possible of these animals.

The addition to the menagerie during the month are a turtle, some Australian Porcupines, Owles, 1 Eagle, some Californian Quails and Canaries and 1 Chinese Goose.

A Cistern has been built for saving the water from the roof of the toolhouse.

The foremans Cottage on the Northern Ground is completed, and some additions are made to the Iron-fencing.

I have the honor to remain

Sir

your most obedient & humble servant

Ferd. Mueller.

The Honorable the Chief Secretary

&c &c &c⁹