Ballina.
13 March. 79.
My dear Baron,
I fear I have got into sad confusion of late respecting my numbers, in consequence
of the loss of a memorandum. I sent a parcel to the Steamer yesterday and it strikes
me that the numbers, then used, E 10, 11, 12, and 13 are those of grapes &
sent from here on the 1st of this month. If you will kindly alter them so as to follow
consecutively the last number in the lot sent on that date you will oblige me. As
to the Cordylines there will be more difficulty than I thought as from some climatic
cause there is very little fruit this year. There was only one other bunch where I
got D3 from. I thought D4 would have been red, but you will know whether it differs
from D3. C. cannafolia
I sent from Lismore
is of a totally different habit, erect and much stouter in the stem; and, though
it may have a second head, it does not branch like those I have sent from here. The
one marked C95, without stem, has not fruited this season, that I can hear of. I have
hear
of a red fruited one which I shall most probably sent
on Saturday morning — As to the
— The flowers sent before were not from the same plant, but growing in the same clump
of
trees
, apart from all
others
. Some of the fruits were green when sent, but others (ripe) had a reddish stalk and
of the same colour at that end. Whether they are poisonous I don't know, but I did
not get the taste out of my mouth all day — The
sent 1st March was not from within a mile of the other and across a broad creek —
The loquat coloured fruit was quite green when sent — When ripe it will scarcely go
sound
to Melbourne, as it decays rapidly like a medlar. I will however send some. I regret
to say we are now reduced to one Steamer — The Platypus was damaged severely last
trip here & when repaired must replace the Ballina, wrecked at Port Macquarie and
the Bonnie Dundee was run down some where near Sydney Heads the night before last.
With best wishes, I am,
My dear Baron
yours truly
Charles. H. Fawcett:
Baron Ferd von Mueller.
&c&c&c.
P.S. I wait a reply as to what I wrote about Dr Woolls
— Are you & he friends?
