The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ Where such thistles, as sent from Bloomfield, ¶ do exist only in very ¶ limited patches, the best plan would be to dig or fork them up with their whole roots, and to burn at once the dislodged pl...

Document information

Physical location:

95.08.00d

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Leader, 1895-08 [95.08.00d]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-08-00d-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Answers to correspondents', Leader, 10 August 1895, p. 9 (B95.08.08). It is introduced by

Weed .— W. B., Bloomfield, writes "On land I have at the above place there are three small patches of the enclosed weed. I am informed it is the American Thistle. I have done a number of things, to destroy it. But It comes stronger than ever. If you could kindly tell me the best and simplest way to get rid of it I should be obliged, as it is causing a lot of trouble." Baron Von Mueller favors us with the following reply:—.

Where such thistles, as sent from Bloomfield,

Now Nilma, Vic.

do exist only in very limited patches, the best plan would be to dig or fork them up with their whole roots, and to burn at once the dislodged plants. Failing to subdue them by that means, care should be taken not to allow them to run into seeds by cutting the flowering plants before the headlets become much developed but the cut portions must then also be burnt without delay. The sender this time forwards leaves only, so that the specific name of his thistle cannot be made out with certainty.