The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ As regards the planting of prominently useful plants on the sand lands near the Wimmera, dear Mr. Reader, I would advise, that the authorities there form a small test plantation on one of the worst...

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95.06.00d

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Dactylis glomerata
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Fagopyrum
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Panicum spectabile
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Ferdinand von Mueller to Felix Reader, 1895-06 [95.06.00d]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-06-00d-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Letter not found. For the text given here, see Dimboola banner, 28 June 1895, p. 2 (B95.06.02).

As regards the planting of prominently useful plants on the sand lands near the Wimmera, dear Mr. Reader, I would advise, that the authorities there form a small test plantation on one of the worst sand places first, to see what best will thrive there. This would not cost much, but it must be made proof against rabbits, the introduction of which animals into Australia, as you will be aware, I strongly opposed. If the widely rooting and quick growing Wondergrass of West Africa, the Coapim of the negroes ( ), of which I sent you roots, will thrive in sand, it will be the most important of all grasses to be utilized there.

The Marram grass would certainly grow where the sand is slightly saline, and possibly it may succeed also on pure sand without brackish substratum; so a trial could be easily made also with this coast grass inland. The spikes at the top of the stems would be nutritious to cattle and sheep, but the leaves are too harsh and rigid for affording good substance to pasture animals. The Sand Lucerne should also be tried, so numerous others mentioned in the volume of my "Select Plants for Industrial Culture."

If the "Marram" gets established many other sand plants could be raised in the shelter of the tufts, and thus the pasturage be improved; thus also naturalizing the (Buckwheat.) The Cockfoot grass ( ) will live also in sand and it has long since been introduced in the Wimmera, tufts of this strong perennial could easily be set out for tests, best first in low places in the sand where some humidity exists.

M's letter was introduced by: 'Settlers in the mallee and other parts of the Wimmera have long felt the need of some fodder plant likely to grow with success on the many sand plots to be found in the North-West. Recognising the importance of the subject, Mr. F. Reader, of Dimboola, who is widely known as a botanist, has been in communication for some time past with Baron Von Mueller, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., the eminent Government botanist. As a result of this correspondence the Baron in his last letter writes ...'.