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From Ferdinand von Mueller to John Lardner   3 Dec 1894

3/12/94.

It is pleasing to me, dear Mr Laidner,1 to learn, that the seeds of the economic plants, lately sent, proved acceptable. More sorts will be sent, as they gradually ripen.

May I ask, whether you or any friend are likely making a tour during the Christmas and New years Holidays. In that case I may mention, that the vegetation in the Cann-Region2 in the remote part of East Gippsland is almost unknown. I came in 1854 only as far as the Cabbage-tree-River, and in 1860 from Twofold Bay3 not much west of the Genoa River.4

The record of localities of the common plants (from dried flowering or fruiting specimens) in my work would be under the finders name. Minute plants and aquatics should not be missed There is thus still this easy chance left to add to the knowledge of our Flora.

With regardful remembrance your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Are you a descendent of Dr Lardner the author of many popular science-works.5

1

Lardner? See postscript.

2

Cann River, Vic.

3

NSW.

4

Vic.

5

i.e. Dionysius Lardner.

6

John Lardner was Land Officer at Bairnsdale, Vic, at the time (see M to J. Lardner, 12 November 1894), an obvious starting point for a collecting expedition such as M proposed.

Please cite as “FVM-94-12-03,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/94-12-03