According to instructions seeds of four of the desired Acacias have been procured, all fresh of the season. The fifth sort, that of the Myall, is not available at present in quantity, but can be obtained from the Murray desert next autumn. I trust, that the quantities now transmitted will be approved of by the hon the Chief Secretary. The prices charged are below the ordinary wholesale prices for good seeds of the kinds. I would respectfully suggest, that a copy of the volume on "select plants"1 may accompany this sending, in as much as the work conveys information on our industrial Acacias also.2
Ferd. von Mueller
27/9/77
Acacia
B76.12.04.
MS annotation: 'appd' [i.e. approved].
MS is an annotation on a file. On 30 July 1877 the Secretary to the Government of India at Simla wrote to Graham Berry, Chief Secretary: 'As the Government of India is anxious to attempt the experimental cultivation in suitable localities in the Himalaya, of the different species of Australian Wattles, I am directed to state that His Excellency the Governor General in Council will be much indebted if the Government of Victoria will kindly direct that a supply of good seed of the following species be sent to the address of this Department at Calcutta.
Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle)
" Melanoxylon (Blackwood)
Acacia decurrens (Common Wattle)
" homalophylla (Myall wood)
" pycnantha (Golden Wattle)'.
Odgers referred the request to M on 14 September, instructing him to 'procure the seeds if practicable'.
A case of seeds was sent to the Central Forest Department, India on 3 October (M77/10982, unit 1027, VPRS 3991/P, PROV), and the next year the Indian Government sent £17.8.0 in payment for the seeds. On 26 September 1878 Odgers wrote to the Under Treasurer: 'The amount received from the India Government covers the amount of an a/c for £16 in favor of Baron von Mueller forwarded to the Treasury on the 10th October 1877 with 28/ added for freight' (N78/9793, unit 1027, VPRS 3991/P PROV).
Please cite as “FVM-77-09-27,” 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