To Asa Gray   13 July 1859

Melbourne bot. & zool Garden,

13. July 1859.

My dear Prof. Asa Gray.

I reply to your kind letter dated 18 March 59.¹ I have to inform you that both your kind contributions safely arrived & were most gratefully received, and that I shall be exceedingly glad to continue the interchange of specimens & seeds, carpological collections & botanical publications with so liberal and enlightened Gentlemen as the North American Botanists.

There was sent some time ago a large box with specimens, seeds & pamphlets by the - - - - - - - an American Clipper whose Captain generously and patriotically took the consignment free of expense. In this way the American Captains are far more obliging than others. The case went at the end of April.

I am told that there is a fodder grass in North America, which attracts much attention on account of its constant verdure & exceedingly prolific growth and which I am told would be of great service to these colonies chiefly in barren localities exposed to draughts. Could it be the Ceratochloa. Any good economical seeds I would much be gratified to receive for the more general benefit of my fellow colonists.

Many thanks for your very kind & obliging promise to provide my establishment with the nucleusses of your noble Oak & Pine-forests. Will you be so friendly to allow me to suggest, that the ripe & air dry acorns & pine seeds would best travel the long way to us in char coal dust, and that it never will be safe to forward on a long seaway dried specimens or book except in hermethically sealed tin-cases. The other day the contents of a box received from Dr. Sonder with books & seeds were totally spoiled not even honorary diplomas wrapped up in wax-paper excepted.

Ever yours with the sincerest regard

Ferd. Mueller.

Ceratochloa