Ferdinand von Mueller

1

For a printed version of this letter, see Home & Maroske (1997), pp. 41-2. MS annotation by Dejardin: 'Répondu le 17 juin […]' [Replied 17th June […]]. Letter not found.

17/5/95

Since some time, dear Consul Dejardin, I intended to send you some more seeds for the Regency of Tunis, but very little did arrive from the various distant localities, at which the particular kinds of seeds were to be collected. But as I offered Sub-Captain Castellan of the Messageries maritimes to procure seeds of the famous

Melaleuca Leucadendron

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for Tamatave,

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Tamatave, on the east coast of the island of Madagascar, was occupied by the French in December 1894 during the first phase of their military conquest of the island.

and as some of these seeds have arrived, it seems best that I should despatch them to you, altho' I have very little else to offer. This Melaleuca will grow in muddy Mangrove-shores and other somewhat saline places, where no Eucalyptus could be reared, and is one of the best antimalarian trees. More seeds of this sort can be procured gradually, but it grows not in Victoria.

Among the few seeds added are those of the

Eucalyptus incrassata

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, the best "Mallee" tree for oil-distillation, and one that would suit for the Sahara and other African deserts, affording fuel and wood for small buildings. Separately these seeds are sent now also. I have also to provide in addition to former sendings seeds for the Russian Government, represented now by yourself. These particular seeds are to be for saline pastures, miasmatic swamps in the Crimea and other [...]

3

illegible.

places. It may be however some time, before some thing can be ready for Russia.

By the "Australien" last month I forwarded some very rare minerals to the galleries of the Musée d'histoire naturelle, and I will always endeavour to enrich French science establishments to the best of my ability.