Ferdinand von Mueller

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Letter not found. For the text given here, see B71.12.04. On 21 November 1871, 'W. F.' of Micilago, NSW, wrote to the Editor of the Australasian: 'Will you kindly afford me answers to the following queries in an early issue of your paper. 1. What is the saline principle contained in the ordinary saltbush of Riverina, or in the varieties of the saltbush rhagodia parabolica and rhagodia hastata? 2. In what points particularly is the Devon surpassed by the shorthorn, and in what points is the shorthorn surpassed by the Devon?' The Editor replied, inter alia: 'To your first question Baron von Müeller, director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, has kindly given the subjoined reply'.

Sir, —

There are not less than 110 different species of saltbush already found in Australia, described largely from my own collections and examinations in the fifth volume of the Flora of Australia

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Bentham (1863-78), vol. 5, pp.150-208.

many of which extend into Riverina. It is therefore impossible for me, without seeing a specimen, to pronounce to what special kind your correspondent refers as the ordinary saltbush of Riverina. Moreover, the number of saline principles and their nature depend to some extent on locality, and differ materially on different spots even in the same species. It is consequently only by a series of analyses that an average result can be obtained in reference to both basis

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bases? This and the errors indicated below are probably typesetter's mis-readings of M's MS.

and acids contained in these herbs and bushes. The only saltbush hitherto subjected in my laboratory to chemical analysis, is one of the glasswork

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glassworts?

of our coast, namely Salivornia

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Salicornia?

australis. This plant contains in all 100 parts, when fresh gathered:—

Your correspondent might easily arrange for the analysis of any particular plant as regards its mineral constituents by causing it to be burnt to ashes, and by forwarding the latter to one of our excellent practising analytical chemists. It would of course be necessary to keep a record of the proportion of ashes to the fresh plant.