Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Fodder plants', Portland guardian, 3 March 1893, p. [2]. The letter is dated to August 1892 when M dispatched seeds to a number of municipal gardens in the Western District of Victoria; see M to D. McArthur, August 1892 (in this edition as 92-08-00g) and notes thereto. The inferred date is consistent with Allitt's having sown the seeds in early spring, and for them to have developed but not reached maturity by the time of the news report.

[Mr. W. Allitt has some peculiar grass growing at his nursery,

2

At Tyrendarra, about 39 km north-east of Portland., Vic. For appeal for help in establishing his nursery, see W. Allitt to M, 26 November 1883.

the seeds of which he received from Baron Von Mueller, who imported them. One of the grasses is a native of Central America, and appears of a strong robust nature resembling flax in some respects. It grows in larger clumps, with from ten to fifteen stalks, and is said to attain the height of twelve feet and is capital for fodder. The other specimen, a no less wonderful grass, is from the west coast of Africa, having much the same qualifications as the other. Mr. Allitt is of opinion that the climate here is too cold for these grasses and believes they would do well in the Queensland district. When fully grown specimens will be sent to us.]