Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Correspondence. Proposed Coniferae plantations', Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1893 , p. xix (B94.06.01).

With much pleasure, dear Mr. Morton, I respond to the request of the Royal Society of Tasmania, as moved by your distinguished Fellow, Mr. R. M. Johnston, and supported by the Hon. N. J. Brown, that I should, along with our able friend, Mr. Abbott, give my opinion on the advisability of growing the

Pinus silvestris

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on a commercial and industrial scale in Tasmania.

2

At the meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania held on 11 July 1893, it was agreed to seek M's opinion on the growing of softwood timbers in Tasmania (see debate in published Proceedings of the July meeting, p. xiv, and A. Morton to M, 14 July 1893). M's report was read at the next meeting, on 15 August.

Your island is undoubtedly particularly well fitted on account of its generally cool climate for the rearing of this pine, as compared to most other regions of Australia. Moreover, in your lowlands the growth will be of more celerity than in Britain, and the same remark applies, of course, to the larch and other trees mentioned at the Royal Society's last meeting. But, as besides the red deal, also the timber of the European white deal (from

Pinus pirla

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)

3

Printer's error for Pinus picea ?

is much imported here, that species, as well as the leading lumber pines of North America, would deserve attention for forestral purposes in Tasmania also, thus particularly

Pinus strobus

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, P. douglasii, P. lambertiana; nor should the vast timber pines of the Himalayas be lost sight of, such for instance as the

Pinus deodara

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and P. excelsa. Several other species of prominent timber value are mentioned in my work on 'Select plants for industrial culture and naturalisation, with notes as to their respective properties.'

4

B91.09.01.

Pinus insignis

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has never been recommended by me for any value for its wood, but in wild climes is unsurpassed for its quickness of growth, it towering now in Melbourne already over high buildings, after I reared this splendid pine first of all in Australia for extensive distribution already in the fiftieth year of this century,

5

It is most unlikely that M began growing

Pinus insignis

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as early as this, when he was still living in SA. More likely he began doing so in the late 1850s, after he became director of the Melbourne Botanic Garden.

its importance for shelter and sanitary purposes having since then also been recognised. When pine plantations are to be formed for future profitable timber fields, several considerations press on attention at the outset. 1. To adopt precautionary arrangements for the safety of the trees against bush fires, therefore localities not too dry but intersected also by watercourses. 2. To choose only land which by inaccessibility or sterility cannot become readily arable. 3. To have the means of removing the timber finally at easy carriage, which may be partly by floating the wood down streams. In a discourse which I delivered 25 years ago on 'Forest culture in relation to industrial pursuits'

6

B71.13.03.

(of which I send you already a Californian reprint),

7

In B76.07.05 or B76.13.11.

I have alluded to many other subjects concerning intended tree plantations for timber, so that I here now perhaps only need add the suggestions, that official applications be made to the Governments of Canada and British India for adequate supplies of pine seeds of the requisite kinds. The extreme scantiness of coniferaceans in the native vegetation of Australia renders also the New Zealand kauri all the more eligible from their respective territories.