To Henry Manners-Sutton   15 December 1866

Melbourne botan. Garden,

15 Dec. 1866.

Sir Henry

I beg leave to submit to your Excellency some additional samples of paper, prepared in the laboratory of my Department from indigenous vegetable substances largely available. These samples demonstrate, that from Eucalyptus-bark of several kinds stout packing paper may be prepared, that the stringy foliage of the Casuarinae may be advantageously employed for good paper and that likewise the best of Acacia will yield a good material. These enquiries and results have some important bearings on the resources of her Majestys Colonies not only in Australia but also in India, in as much as some species of Casuarina are abundant both in continental and insular India, where therefore the foliage, which is so readily attainable, might also be drawn into use. My object on this occasion has only been to bring the raw-material crudely worked up under notice, but I shall at a future period cause a paper of finer texture to be prepared from the identical material. I shall also have the honor to submit ere long to your Excellency the tabulated results of investigations into the percentage of Tannic acid, the main tannizing principle, contained in a series of indigenous barks & other substances.

With profoundest regards I remain,

your Excellencys very obedient

Ferd. Mueller

His Excellency the honorable Sir Henry Manners-Sutton, K.C.B.,

Governor of Victoria &c &c &c

Acacia

Casuarinae

Casuarina

Eucalyptus