The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ Mr. Duffy in his recent lecture ¶ referred to the charms of dense copses of elms, so much planted in middle Europe. It should be remembered, however, that there no foliage is required whilst the s...

Document information

Physical location:

67.02.00d

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Editor of the Argus, 1867-02 [67.02.00d]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1867/67-02-00d-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from the Argus, 9 February 1867, p. 5 (B67.02.05). It is introduced by 'Dr Mueller furnishes us with the following note:‑'

Mr. Duffy in his recent lecture

'Mr Gavan Duffy on his experiences in Europe' (Argus, 5 February 1867, pp. 5-6), a report of his lecture 'Experiences of an Australian in Europe' delivered on 4 February 1867, includes a passage advocating planting elms on a six-foot grid over five or six acres of land to provide shady summer parks.

referred to the charms of dense copses of elms, so much planted in middle Europe. It should be remembered, however, that there no foliage is required whilst the snow falls; and that here an exclusive planting of deciduous trees would impart a wintry appearance — undesirable at any season. Thus elms, and other deciduous trees, are here mainly fitted for interspersion, or for interplanting, at regular distances. Besides, they will only prosper where they are not exposed to the full violence of the hot winds; and they need an abundance of water. Irrigation applied once a week to the elms in the Botanic-gardens keeps them barely alive. For more extended lines in these gardens the water cannot be obtained until another main from the Yan Yean reservoir brings a larger supply. The eucalyptii interplanted between the elms have outgrown the latter thrice in rapidity; but wherever the sewage goes to waste — as on a good many of our unplanted municipal reserves — the growth of elms, willows, spreading poplars, and other umbrageous deciduous trees should certainly be encouraged, along with that of evergreen trees. The cows kept on these reserves — to the hindrance of all planting operations from year to year — are assuredly not sufficient to supply with milk one-hundredth part of the inhabitants of Melbourne. With the facilities of bringing by rail milk and other farm produce from a distance, we should follow the example of London, Edinburgh, and other great European cities, and turn our metropolitan reserves to better account than cow pastures.