V. G. M. I. Society1
2/10/61
Sir
I had the honor a few days since of acknowledging receipt of your letter,2 respecting the holding of the proposed Rose Show in the Botanic Gardens, in connection with the above Society, I am now instructed by the Committee to convey to you their appreciation & thanks for your kind suggestions & remarks respecting the inadvisability of holding a Rose Show so close upon the Exhibition of the Horticultural Society The Committee expresses their deep regret that it does not lie in their power, either to postpone or to hold the Show at an earlier period — the day was fixed upon at the last general meeting of the Society, after a careful consideration as to when Roses would be in perfection — & the Committee cannot see that a Rose Show can possibly interfere with the general exhibition of the Horticultural Society: some considerable expense too, has also been incurred in the printing of Schedules &c. & the Committee thinks that having gone so far, they cannot with credit to the Society alter the date. Again expressing the grateful obligation the Committee are under, for your courtesy & kindness in always being willing to aid & assist them, thereby promoting the interests of Horticulture.
I have the honor to remain Sir
Yr obedt Servt
Jos. Harris (Hon. Sec.)3
Victorian Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society, Melbourne.
M to J. Harris, 27 September 1861; J. Harris to M, 28 September 1861 reported that a meeting of the Committee had been called to consider it.
The show was held as a Rose Show and General Exhibition of Plants, Fruits and Vegetables. At a meeting of the Society on 11 October the organizing Committee reported: 'Your Committee have much pleasure in stating that Dr Mueller with his usual spirit of liberality, furnished a quantity of plants & flowers for the purpose of decoration, & otherwise rendered every assistance in his power —.'
Please cite as “FVM-61-10-02,” 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