Melbourne
7/10/73.
I was pleasingly surprised, dear Mr Berthoud, when I got your photogram, which I will put into the long series of autographed card-portraits of naturalists in my Album.1
As regards Insects I can do little for you myself, but a young Gardener in the Department here, Mr French,2 studies them since years enthusiastically, and might give you much information on the native species.
In reference to plants I would remark that even new discoveries might be made by you, if you collect the rushes and sedges and such like plants, including all the smaller sorts; also any kind of water plants, even the minute sorts, but you must always endeavour to get the fruit
The petal enclosed in your letter is from an Iris, which however is immigrated
You should dry two sets of plants, number both correspondingly and keep one set, while you forward an other. I can then give you the names. Dont look for fine plants. Every collector picks them up. The less conspicuous kinds are those, which I yet need from the Campaspe.3
your
Ferd von Mueller
I have no photogram left of mine, but will send one hereafter.
A friend in Germany wants freshwater shells, especially minute sorts. So if you find any, please secure them for me.
Iris
Please cite as “FVM-73-10-07,” 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