Melbourne
26/8/1878.
W.H. Odgers Esqr
Undersecretary.
Sir.
In compliance with your request1 I have the honor of forwarding herewith the following seeds, as ordered for the Government of India
Acacia Melanoxylon 10 lb
Acacia dealbata 15 lb
Acacia decurrens 10 lb
The seeds are fresh, of the last seasons gathering. I have been unable to secure the 5 lb of Acacia homalophylla, as the seed of this tree (the Myall-tree) is never regularly collected for the trade;2 moreover it cannot be obtained nearer than the Murray-River, and even there the tree has become very scarce. No new Myall-seeds can be got before January; I will endeavour to procure these particular seeds then.3
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient
Ferd. von Mueller.
Acacia dealbata
Acacia decurrens
Acacia homalophylla
Acacia Melanoxylon
On 1 July 1878, A. Hume, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Revenue, Agriculture and Commerce, Simla wrote to the Chief Secretary, G. Berry: 'The Director of the Botanical Gardens at Melbourne [i.e. W. Guilfoyle] having lately offered to supply the Government of India with seeds and plants, I am directed to state that the Governor General in Council will be glad if His Excellency the Governor will cause the following seeds to be supplied, in case they can conveniently be obtained: Acacia melanoxylon — 10lbs | Acacia dealbata — 15 " | Acacia decurrens — 10 " | Acacia homalophylla — 5lbs | Total 40lbs | 2 Any outlay incurred on this account will be gladly refunded by the Government of India.' (N78/8413, unit 1050, VPRS 3991/P, Public Record Office, Victoria).
On 14 August, Odgers minuted to the Minister of Lands, Francis Longmore, the Minister responsible for the Botanic Garden, that 'it is irregular for a subordinate officer to communicate with another Govt. Such correspondence is conducted by the Hon. the Chief Secretary. This dept will supply the seeds asked for.' This minute was forwarded to Guilfoyle on 15 August and duly 'noted' by him.
On 22 August 1878, Odgers minuted: 'Will Gov. Botanist be so good as to obtain and have packed for transmission the seeds required'. M marked the file on 26 August: 'Seeds provided herewith according to request'.
M had previously supplied seeds of these species for India; see M to W. Odgers, 27 September 1877.
The seeds … trade is marked with a line in the margin.
On 13 September, Odgers minuted: 'It is noticed that in the a/c passed in favour of the Government Botanist no claim is made for seeds of the Acacia homalophylla referred to in the concluding part of the letter of the India Secretary. Will the Baron von Mueller be so good as to state whether he was unable to obtain the seeds, or if it escaped his attention'. This minute was referred to M the same day and he returned it on 16 September with no response indicated.
On 21 September, G. Berry wrote to A. Hume to advise the despatch of a parcel containing the seed and requesting a remittance of £13.18.0 to cover the cost and freight. Hume replied on 16 November acknowledging receipt of the seed and advising that instructions for payment had been issued (P79/67, unit 1050, VPRS 3991/P, Public Record Off ice, Victoria). The Comptroller General, Calcutta, also wrote to Berry on 16 November enclosing a Bill of Exchange for the amount owing and asked for its receipt to be acknowledged. A letter of acknowledgement was sent to him on 10 January 1879 (P79/132, unit 1050, VPRS 3991/P, Public Record Office, Victoria).
Please cite as “FVM-78-08-26,” 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