Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.2697, Box K8313, Potts papers, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 94.07.07

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Henry Potts, 1894-07-07. 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//letters/1890-6/1894/94-07-07-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

7/7/94.
Kindly remind me, dear Mr Potts, about September, to send the root of the W. African Wonder-Grass,
Panicum spectabile

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. It has in the cool weather gone back here, and it would do no good to plant it, while night-frosts might occur. In the first year after planting it should be lightly covered with brush or hay, so as to allow the roots getting strength for perennial growth and spread.
If the enclosed Bamboo-seeds were sown in a warm house or forcing frame, the seedling could be gradually hardened off, and the plants when strong enough, would endure the winters there
Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller
Your treatise on
Sorghum

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is very interesting
1
See (Age (Melbourne), 16 August 1892: 'Mr. H. W. Potts, chemist, of Euroa, has been commissioned to write a paper [on Egyptian brown corn as a summer fodder] for the next issue of the Agricultural Bulletin. This paper was read before the Euroa Fruit Growers Association, from which the following information is taken.' A summary of the talk on some varieties of
Sorghum

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follows. The full treatise has not been found; 'Agricultural Bulletin' is probably the Bulletin issued by Victoria's Department of Agriculture.
Mr Hartmann
2
Probably the Qld botanical collector Carl Heinrich Hartmann, who died in December 1887.
is dead since several years. Dr Bancroft sen. died last month,
3
Joseph Bancroft died on 16 June 1894.
a great loss to Austral science.
You shall soon have some seeds of economic plants, they must be sown after the night-frosts have passed.
Do you like to join the Royal Hort. Soc of Engl. as FRHS? I will gladly propose you.
4
Potts took up M's offer; see M to H. Potts, 3 November 1894.