From Robert Perrott¹    5 December 1871

Haroldston

Armidale New England

N. S. Wales

5th December 1871

My dear Dr Mueller,

I received your letter of the 26th ultimo² with much pleasure, and now, under separate cover, send you some specimens of the plant required, "Agrimonia Eupatoria L." I found it growing about this place on a trap formation in bunches, and is strictly indigenous — my attention was drawn to this plant several years ago, but without the slightest idea of what you have informed me, that it was not known in this Hemisphere.

There are not so many plants as there used to be about here owing to sheep, and running fires, the latter having destroyed a great deal this season — the altitudes of this portion of New England, namely, Armidale, (this place being four and a half miles S. W. of it,) is about three thousand two or 3 hundred feet — these plants A. E. L.³ are growing in an enclosed, unbroken, original, piece of land which has never been in any person's hands but mine and could therefore by no possibility have been introduced. I may as well say here, that all I have sent you, or will send, are indigenous, and if a doubt should arise in my mind I will carefully note it — If you require it, I will send you bye and by some more specimens with seed &c as soon as they ripen — I have several plants to send you now as soon as I can find time to put them up — enclosed, I forward a sketch⁴ of a bulbous plant which I have not noticed until this year, it has only one leaf as represented — the dried specimens shall be sent with the others — date when in flower on drawing — I have not had much time lately for looking after specimens, and be assured I never lose an opportunity of searching about for fresh and new things it affords me a pleasure I cannot describe — that, and the use of my pencil. With respect to the Bellingen Ranges, I cannot advise you at present as to the best mode of getting them explored, I have been intending to get leave for the purpose of going there for some time past, but have been unable to do it as yet, not that I presume for one moment to imagine that I know anything of botany, yet an innate love for all that is beautiful in creation would enable me to collect many specimens for your consideration, and where a difficulty would occur by reason of size &c, &c, my pencil would supply the deficiency —

Believe me to remain

Yours very faithfully & sincerely

Rob I. Perrott

Baron Ferd von Mueller

&c &c &c

Melbourne

Agrimonia Eupatoria