Melbourne Botanic Garden
July 13th 1872.
To Baron von Mueller, Director Botanic Garden.
Sir,
Certain statements having been made by the Forest Inspector, during the week as reported in the Daily papers, in reference to the cutting of flowers, in the Botanic Garden, by Industrial School Boys, I may be allowed to state, that I generally cut the flowers for Public fetes &c myself, and never heard of or saw any of those boys cutting them. I have when there have been large quantities wanted for Public fetes, taken one boy with me to carry them, as it is awkward to cut, and carry them at the same time, but have never let the boy come on the beds, nor, as a rule, stepped on them myself, but when I have had occassion so to do, I left no footprints behind, but erased them, especially on newly dug borders.
I have the honor to be Sir
your obedient servant
Frederick Pitcher1
M referred Pitcher's letter to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, J. Casey, on 13 July 1872 noting: 'I may be allowed to add, that flowers are cut only for public purposes under a clause of the rules and never for private objects'. On 19 July 1872, Pitcher's letter was 'Referred to Mr Ferguson for any remarks he may wish to submit relative to this letter'. On 22 July, Ferguson informed C. Hodgkinson, the Assistant Commissioner of Lands & Survey: 'In reference to the letter of Frederick Pitcher dated 13th inst addressed to Baron von Mueller in which he challenges my statement made before the honorable the Minister of Lands in reference to boys being permitted to cut flowers and trample on the borders in the Botanical Gardens. I would beg leave most respectfully to repeat that statement, and in support of what I did say on that occasion I find on referring to my diary kept during the years 1870, 1871, and the early part of the current year that I have very frequently had occasion to remonstrate with Frederick Pitcher on the slovenly manner, he, along with several boys employed in the gardens trampled on the shrubbery borders when cutting flowers &c, transferring the earth from the borders to the walks and otherwise destroying that neat appearance which I am desirous of producing and which all well kept gardens ought to present to the public eye. — As a practical Gardener, of more than thirty years experience I most respectfully beg leave to protest against such intrusions being permitted in the Melbourne Botanic Garden where practical men are employed and instructed to carry out order and neatness. I would also beg to state that Frederick Pitcher is one of the junior messenger boys employed in Baron Von Muellers office and in no way connected with the practical department of the Botanical Gardens.' (F72/14804, unit 750, VPRS 44, Public Record Office, Victoria).
M and Ferguson were interviewed by J. J. Casey on 11 September, this being reported in Daily telegraph (Melborne), 12 July 1872, p.3, Age (Melbourne), 12 September 1872, p. 4, Argus, 12 September 1872, p. 5, and satirically in Melbourne Punch, 18 July 1872, p. 2. The report in the Daily telegraph included Ferguson's allegations that M had been sending boys from the Industrial School to cut flowers and that hey had 'trampled on the beds and spoiled hem', but the other reports made no mention of this.
Please cite as “FVM-72-07-13,” 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