Document information
Physical location:
RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 87.08.15Preferred Citation:
John Holdsworth to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1887-08-15. 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/87-08-15>, accessed September 11, 2025
1
MS found with a specimen of Euphorbiaceae indet. (MEL 231300). MS annotation by M:
'Answ | 16/8/87'. Letter not found.
From J. Holdsworth,
Family & Dispensing Chemist.
Pall Mall Sandhurst
.
2
Now Bendigo, Vic.
Aug 15th 1887
To Baron Von Mueller
Melbourne
Dear Sir
Enclosed please find a sample of herb growing on the Yanko
plains 20 miles S. W. of the Murrumbigee N.S.W. it frequents sandy hills & grows
quite close to the ground in fact a creeper. When fresh it is quite purple on the
back of leaf, and sheep soon after eating get dizzy & die, the drover who brought
me this states that he lost 300 out of 4000 sheep during one night Seeing a paragraph
in the Argus
re sheep poisoning Thought this would be of interest to you, I should be glad to
know its history if you should think it worth while to investigate into it
3
Now Yanco.
4
Probably 'A thousand sheep poisoned near Bourke', Argus, 10 August 1887, p. 6.
Yours truly
J H B Holdsworth