Melbourne bot Garden
24/4/69
I feel very much indebted, dear Prof. Parlatore, for your great kindness in sending me your photogram, which I shall treasure much. I am also obliged for your goodness in forwarding the printed list of seeds of the Florence Garden, one so rich in treasures. I first contemplated to make an extract of the kinds new to Australian culture, but it would have been such a long array of names, that I finally thought it best merely [to]1 mention my wishes generally. Any seeds of trees and shrubs (exclusive of Australian species) will be welcome here, because few kinds are in cultivation, which bear already here seeds. Hence I have to rely constantly on new importations to maintain the supply of the plants for our public cemeteries, church- and school- grounds. — Seeds of none of the Greenhouse plants of [orna]ment,2 of special structural interest or of particular utility will come amiss. In cases, where I already have the plants, such seeds (if fresh) will serve for interchanges with other institutions. I may remark, that I have as yet not a single Plant of Pistacia vera and only one species of Papyrus. The seeds of Pistacia vera would need to be placed in dry sand, just when ripe, otherwise the power of germination will be lost on the way to Australia. If you would cause M. Ajuti, to send me a list of all Australian plants growing already in […] 3 garden, I will send supplemental [… .]4 The Chevalier Biagi is always very obliging in effecting transits. So I shall continue to benefit from his courtesy. I have written this letter in English, which I write more fluently than French, altho I understand the latter language fully.
I shall be able to send you within a short time the vi vol. of my Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae, and I am glad to learn that your noble Flora Italiana is progressing so rapidly. I often make [use]5 of your definitions of the species of Coniferae in settling the nomenclature of the plants in this garden.
With deep regards, I beg to remain, dear Professor, your
Ferd. von Mueller
Seeds of aquatic plants for my Garden lake would be very welcome.
Should any new Conifers fall into my hands I will at once send them to you.
Coniferae
Papyrus
Pistacia vera
Please cite as “FVM-69-04-24b,” 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 19 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/69-04-24b