To Nicholas Holtze   29 August 1892

29/8/92

You will get next month some more notes on your plants, dear Mr Holtze, as I have put some ready for marking on. It has been a sad year to me through the retrenchments, which caused so much anxieties and loss of time and extrawork to me; but I speak privately as I must be thankful, that the Department did not become abolished altogether. Among the plants, to be described, one will be named after your Governor.¹ I still look forward for fruits of the narrow-leaved verbenaceous plant[.]² I do not like to work on imperfect material, and many Port Darwin plants we know only as yet in flower only. Kindly give me soon your latest and fullest experiences on the Livistonas there, as I wish to write a third article on the Australian Fan-Palms early for the "Gardeners-Chronicle".³ I like also Notes on the native Bamboos there. Kindly remember, that I am in my 68th year, and God's will may not allow me to live an other year, to repeat my solicitations. Does your brother not, like your worthy father⁴ and your self, take an interest in the vegetation near him, though he is a native of Australia. What prevents him from gathering in a favorable season like this some few plants even near his dwelling, as he is almost in a new region for collecting, and as it involves neither toil nor much expense to get specimens for me here.⁵

I think, that I sent your brother seeds of Garden-Vegetables. Would he let me know, by some few words, which it would not take many minutes to write, whether he wishes me to send such seeds from time to time freshly.

Always regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller

When you meet Inspector Foelsche, kindly give him my compliments. I shall soon write to him in answer of a letter, lately received from him,⁶ but have been over powered by local departments engagements.

Regardfully

your

Ferd. von Mueller

Did you get various seeds, lately sent? I had no letter from you for a long time. Kindly send any by post, as they are ripening in your garden. I shall not forget you, when I obtain any, fit for your purposes. I could use some of Manihot Glaziovi,⁷ a plant raised at Port Darwin from seeds sent by me

When you write to your brother, kindly ask him not to miss minute annuals and floating or submerged plants. If the postage of small parcels is an object, I will gladly refund it, notwithstanding the increased calls on my own slender monetary resources at this dire time.

Livistona

Manihot Glaziovi