Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Coapim Grass', R utherglen sun and Chiltern Valley advertiser , 24 March 1893, p. [ 4 ] . This title was a weekly, and the letter is dated to 20 March by comparison with specimens sent to other newspapers. The text is identical to that in M to Ovens and Murray a dvertiser , 20 March 1893 (in this edition as 93-03-20g) and M to Wodonga and Towong sentinel , 31 March 1893 (in this edition as 93-03-25 d ).

[We have to acknowledge receipt from Baron Von Mueller of a specimen of the Coapim grass, botanically known as panicum spectabile. The grass is a habitant of South Africa, of very vigorous growth, requiring little moisture, and specially adapted for public reserves, on which stock have to be turned occasionally. The specimen sent by Baron Von Mueller might be taken, even at this season of the year, for an early spring growth of some cereal rather than a grass which had stood the ordeal of a particularly dry summer. The plant grows to a height of about 2ft 6in, and is very well liked by cattle.]

2

For other distribution of the grass at this time, see M to Bairnsdale advertiser and Tambo and Omeo chronicle , 16 March 1893 , and notes thereto.