From William Dobson¹    28 August 1883

Hobart —

28 August 83

My dear Baron,

I was discussing with His Excellency, Sir George Strahan, a few evenings ago the question of introducing new industries. Amongst others he suggested Cork growing. I told him that we had the cork oak growing here, and that I had a young one growing in my garden. He was not satisfied that it was the true cork producing tree and asked me write to Sir Joseph Hooker for information. I told him that we need not go to the Northern Hemisphere for Botanical information for that you would probably know as much, or more about the matter than Sir Joseph himself, and that you would also know whether our climate is well adapted to its cultivation

I send you a twig of my plant so that you may be able to identify it

I promised His Excellency that I would venture to write to you on the subject, my only apology for troubling you is that I have always found you so ready to afford me information when I have been in difficulty as to the nomenclature of any fern (e.g. "Aspidium Hispidum", until then new to Tasmania) or other plant, that I look upon you as one of the scientists willing to aid the uninitiated when they seek information

I am, dear Baron,

Faithfully yours

W. L. Dobson.

Sir F. Von Mueller K.C.M.G.

Melbourne.

Aspidium Hispidum