Document information

Physical location:

N78/11551, unit 1048, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 78.10.23

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Odgers, 1878-10-23. 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/1870-9/1878/78-10-23-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne,
23/10/78.
W. H. Odgers Esqr,
Undersecretary.
Sir
In accordance with instructions from his Excellency the Governor
1
Odgers forwarded this letter and the box of seeds to the Governor's Private Secretary.
and the honorable the Chief Secretary I have now the honor of transmitting 22 kinds of Eucalyptus-seeds for trial-cultures in Cyprus.
2
See M to W. Odgers, 13 September 1878.
It is anticipated, that the fever-miasms of that island might be decomposed by the antiseptic oils and volatile acids, which the various Eucalypts so extensively exhale.
The culture of the Eucalypts is beset with no difficulties; but as this culture may yet be altogether unknown in Cyprus, it may be well to offer a few words of advise, concerning the treatment of such seeds & the young plants subsequently.
3
The section The culture of the Eucalypts … various Eucalypts is marked with a cross at the beginning and end.
The seeds are best sown in shallow boxes containing good friable soil, or they may be sown on gardenbeds. The sowing should be merely so, that the seeds are but very slightly covered with soil, the smallness of the embryo not admitting to push through much soil covering the seeds. When the seedlings are about a hand high, they should be transplanted into garden-beds, serving as plants-nurseries. The distance from seedling to seedling might range between 6 inches and one foot, in order that when the plants are 1 – 1½ foot high, they may be moved individually, with some soil to the root of each, to the final localities of their destination. The transplanting of the seedlings as well as the young plants ought to be performed in cool weather, on a cloudy day, and the young plants should be carefully watered for some time afterwards. The species, which will best grow in inundated land is E. rostrata, but the species which exceeds all others in celerity of growth is E. Globulus. But as now so many sorts are offered for test-sowing & rearing, it can be locally watched, which particular species succeeds best in the clime of Cyprus, and of such preferable species seeds can then be procured in large quantity.
The accompanying volume on "select plants"
4
B76.12.04.
contains some data also on the respirative technical value of various Eucalypts.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller.
5
The file includes a list of the seeds sent, headed: 'One box containing one copy of Baron von Muellers "Select Plants" and 22 packages Eucalyptus seed'. The list is: 'Eucalyptus globulus, Labill. | rostrata, Schlechtend. | obliqua, l'Herit. | amygdalina, Labill. | regnans, F.v.M. | goniocalyx, F.v.M. | polyanthemos, Schauer | melliodora, Cunningh. | Stuartiana F.v.M. | coriacea Cunningh | colossea F.v.M. | calophylla R.Brown | cornuta Labill. | marginata Smith | patens Benth. | pilularis Smith | hamastoma, Smith | hemiphloia F.v.M. | robusta Smith | viminalis Labill | capitellata Smith | leucoxylon F.v.M'.
William Guilfoyle, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, also supplied seeds of E. globulus to be sent to Cyprus (N78/13212, unit 1048, and O78/14323, unit 1048, VPRS 3991/P, Public Record Office, Victoria).