To Robert Pohlman and others1    14 June 1860

Melbourne Botanical Zological Garden

14 June 1860

To the Trustees of the Melbourne Cemetery2

 

Gentlemen,

Having inspected the ground to be planted this season at the Cemetery and carefully examined the tenders for trees and shrubs, I beg to recommend to you the following plan of operation.3

1 To adopt pines, as the most suitable trees for planting Cemetries, for the ground along the fences.

2 To plant these pines in a double row alternately, allowing 24 feet distance in the longitudinal and in the diagonal lines allowing a space from 3 to 4 feet for the Acacia hedge proposed to be sown.

3 To choose Cluster pines (Pinus Pinaster) for the Eastern and Southern side, these being, according to the tenders, in a sufficient number available, and recommendable on account of their hardy nature and comparatively rapid growth.

4 To plant the Himalayan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa) along the Western border.

5 To adopt the Japanese Cypress (Cryptomeria Japonica) for the Northern limit of the ground.

6 To plant the smaller plots of ground with miscellaneous shrubs and trees, plants of the pine-tribe to be kept predominant.

The pines required for the trenched border along the fence are 140 Cryptomeria at 2/3 each £15.15.0 86 Cupressus torulosa at 2/6 each £10.15.0 and 382 Pinus Pinaster, of which 220 are obtainable at 1/- the rest being charged at 1/8 each = £24.10.0; making a total sum for these pines of £51.0.0.

The other plants which I have recommended to you on the tender list for acceptance, may be interspersed with the pines, or used at the small borders.

I have not selected any deciduous trees as I do not think their effect an agreeable one in our zone of evergreen vegetation. Should the Trustees however prefer some of them, the list might be easily diminished in those pointed out and Oaks, Elms, Poplars, Planes, Walnuts, Gleditschis,4 Ash, Horsechesnuts, and Limes be substituted, the tender prices of all being moderate

I have the honor to be Gentlemen

Your most obedient and humble Servant

(Signed) Fred:5 Mueller, Govt Botanist6

 

Acacia

Cryptomeria Japonica

Cupressus torulosa

Gleditschis

Pinus Pinaster

 
1
MS is a copy of M's letter written into the minutes. See also M to A. Purchas, 10 June 1860, (in this edition as 60-06-10a), in which M agrees to meet the Trustees of the Melbourne Cemetery.
2
Robert Pohlman (Chairman), Charles McCarthy, David Ogilvy, Robert Smith, Frederick Cooper, Isaac Hart.
3
See Maroske (1991).
4
i.e. Gleditsias.
5
sic.
6
This report was read by the Trustees at their 3 July meeting and they: 'Resolved that the above report be adopted subject to the introduction of some deciduous trees in certain positions of the ground as suggested in the latter portion of Dr. Mueller's report'. The Trustees also: 'Resolved that the best thanks of the Board be tendered to Dr. Mueller for the great trouble he has taken in preparing his valuable report: and that the Trustees would esteem as a great favor his inspection of the planting whenever he can make it convenient, also that the Clerk at the Cemetery receive instructions to pay the hire of any vehicle engaged by Dr. Mueller on the occasion of such inspections'.

Please cite as “FVM-60-06-14,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 20 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/60-06-14