Could anyone in your district be induced to gather, by means of a long-handled rake, any sorts of floating or sub merged plants for me? When abroad, in 1854, I went east as far as the Cabbage-tree River,1 it was difficult for me to got access to aquatic plants, so that their geographic distribution through Gippsland East requires yet to be more carefully studied, especially so as in 1860 I could not penetrate from the Genoa far westward.2 Indeed, the land plants at the Bemm, Cann and Mueller rivers need also yet more exhaustive searches for complete elucidation. If any amateurs, whether ladies or gentlemen, will aid in this by sending material dried by post, they will receive due acknowledgment for any discoveries of theirs in my works, and I will send seeds of prominently useful plants in return, likely new, for your splendid country, with its winterless clime in the lowlands.
See M to J. Foster, 10 March 1854.
See M to R. Heales, 10 January 1861.
Letter not found. The text given here is from Bairnsdale advertiser and Tambo and Omeo chronicle, 24 March 1896, p. 2, col. d. It is introduced by 'Baron von Mueller writes to Mr J. Yeates, under date 20th inst.:'.
James Yeates J.P. (c.1851-1938) was printer and publisher of the newspaper, and deeply involved with the Bairnsdale School of Mines and Industries.
Please cite as “FVM-96-03-20c,” 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