Melbourne
13 May 1879.
W. H. Odgers Esqr
Under Secretary.
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit herewith a case containing 85 lb seeds of Acacias and 20½ lb seeds of the best Eucalypts for the Government of Bombay. No more than the above mentioned quantity of Acacia seeds could be obtained in the market of this and the neighboring colonies, after the supply needful for the Wattel bark Commission had been secured.1
The Bill of loading as well as the account are herewith submitted also.
The last seed-season has been most unfavorable for Acacia decurrens (of which Acacia mollissima is a mere variety) and for Acacia dealbata; hence none of these two kinds of seeds could be added to the present consignment; but there is all the more probability that 5 ctw2 of the different kinds of Acacia seeds, ordered by the Bombay Government could be readily enough collected next season, if the order was renewed or again confirmed not later than November of this year.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller
Gov. Botanist
The box with the seeds, now made ready, is placed in accordance with your wish at once into the Office of the P. & O. Steam-Navigation-Company.3
Acacia dealbata
Acacia decurrens
Acacia mollissima
Eucalyptus
M was a member of a commission established in 1878 to inquire into the supply of wattle bark for the tanning industry.
cwt? i.e. hundredweight?
Upon receipt of M's letter, a letter was sent to the Chief Secretary, Bombay, on 15 May 1879 with the information M had provided.
On 26 February 1879 the Conservator of Forests, Camp Malshe [the village of Malshiras?], Poona Districts, India wrote to the Chief Secretary, Revenue Department, Bombay: 'I have the honor to request that Government will kindly address the Government of Victoria asking them to send us as soon as possible, a small consignment of seeds of their indigenous forest trees, but especially I would ask for 5 cwt of each variety of the Australian Wattle — acacia decurrens, dealbata-molissima and pycnantha, a tree invaluable for the reboisement of denuded hill slopes. The acacia dealbata has succeeded upon the Nilgiris, and I feel sure it would very soon alter the character of our Deccan hills and waste lands.' (A79/3692, unit 1133, VPRS 3991, PROV). The Revenue Department, Bombay forwarded a copy of this letter to the Chief Secretary, Melbourne, adding: 'I am directed to request you will be so good as to move the Government of Victoria to favour this Government, as early as possible, with a supply of the seeds required by that Officer' (Q79/3692, unit 1133, VPRS 3991, PROV).
On 24 April 1879 the Under Secretary, W. Odgers, instructed: 'Will Gov. Botanist be good enough to report if these seeds can be obtained'.
Please cite as “FVM-79-05-13,” 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