To Alfred Deakin   19 March 1888

Melbourne,

19/3/88.¹

The honorable Alfred Deakin, M. L. A.

Chief Secretary

Sir

I have the honor to report, that the additional notes, for bringing the intended new edition of the volume on "select plants for industrial culture and naturalisation" up to the requirements and knowledge of the present time,² are now ready, so that a portion of the thus augmented copy can be handed to the Gov. Printer at the end of this month. But after a preliminary consultation with Mr Brain, held to facilitate the early issue of the new enlarged edition, I learn, that it will be needful to obtain from the honorable the Treasurer a special authority, to engage for the £190, available in the Gov. Botanist Establishment for bringing out this new edition, the Extra-Compositors for setting up the types. If this concession can be granted, the whole volume can be brought into print within the next month, which would be very desirable, as binding will subsequently still take some time, and as it is of importance that the work should come within the early reach not only of the ruralists but also the jurors of the Centennial Exhibition³ and the Commissioners also, not even a single copy of the last edition being purchasable since many months at the Gov. Printing Office.

With a view of further expediting the issue of the new edition, I have the honor to solicit, that should the Lands Department wish to seize on the opportunity of securing for the Agricultural branch and for that of forestry a supply of impressions while the work is in type, at a very reduced rate, by granting a subsidy for paper, for rolling off the print and for binding, a decision on this subject would require to be arrived at quite early, as otherwise the appearance of the work would be altogether retarded, in injustice to my own establishment. I may be permitted to add, that the Educational Department brought to my recollection, that the State-Schools were provided with one of the earliest Editions of the "Select plants", so that no pressing necessity exists for sending to the Gov Schools the work anew as yet.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your obedient and humble servant

Ferd. von Mueller,

Gov. Botanist