To Joseph Hooker   27 July 1867

Queenscliff¹ 27/7/67

I date this from the coast, dear Dr Hooker, where I went, after never having left the department for six years, to endeavour to regain strength in rural tranquillity & under oceanic breezes.

Could not the Rev. Mr Berkeley adress to me a letter, setting forth his views on a publication of the Fungi of Australia. I will submit such proposal then gladly to our Government.

What a pity, that such an excellent man cannot devote his time solely to Mycology. But few of us are in the happy independence of the good Mr Bentham, on whom it reflects all the more credit, that he without need works away so luminously at late days of life. I have scarcely other days but Sundays for literary work & as the Garden is open after 1 p.m., I seldom have even that afternoon to myself. [D'Urvillea] potatorum is here common. I will ascertain the percentage of its Bromine & Iodine.²

Poor Sonder with a large family to provide for has but little time for phytographic work, but the best will. Of our lamented Harvey he speaks always in the highest terms.

Should my illness increase I must ask you & Mr Bentham to write to my confidential horticultural assistant, E. B. Heyne esq.

Do you want a stem of Dicksonia antarctica 50 years old & about 16 feet high for your Conservatory? It travels much better than Alsophila or indeed any other treefern, as far as my experience goes, & it is the hardiest of all.

Ever yr Ferd Mueller

I am very weak indeed

Best thanks for the seeds of Dactylis caespitosa

I packed a box full of Epacrideae before I went³

Capt Smith sends his best regards⁴

We had not adequate fund granted for a proper display of our colonial resources at Paris & the intercolonial Exhibition⁵ took away the time.

Alsophila

Dicksonia antarctica

D'Urvillea potatorum

Epacrideae

Dactylis caespitosa