Museo Botánico de Melbourne,
24 Febrero de 1874.
Al Presidente de la Sociedad Rural de Buenos Aires.
Señor:
Por encargo del Sr. Baron Von Muller, que actualmente se halla ausente en una escursion profesional por el pais, tengo el honor de enviarle algunas semillas de Eucaliptus rostrata, comunmente llamado Gomero colorado (árbol de fierro).
Ese árbol que se estiende desde la colonia Victoria hasta las zonas tropicales de Australia, ofrece una madera muy fuerte y dura, incorruptible, tanto en el suelo como en el agua y al aire libre, por cuya razon es adaptable para durmientes de ferro-carriles, para construccion de puentes y obras de defensa y otras análogos, siendo á la vez una escelente madera para carbon.
Si bien ese árbol no crece tan rápidamente como el Eucaliptus globulas,1 se produce bien en parajes húmedos, en las orillas de los rios, ó en los bordes de las lagunas, aun cuando se encuentren en parte inundados; pero tambien crece en terreno seco, donde, en efecto, produce la mejor madera.
No abrigo ninguna duda de que su introduccion en Sud-América ha de dar los mejores resultados, como ha sucedido en la Indía.
Recibirá vd. al mismo tiempo algunas otras semillas de menor importancia, pero espero que serán igualmente bien recibidas.
El paquete va dirigido á los Sres. C. J. Blackith y Ca. de Lóndres, calle de Lower Thames.
Tengo el honor de ser su obediente servidor
J. Q. Luchmann.2
Melbourne Botanical Museum
24 February 1874
To the President of the Rural Society of Buenos Aires3
On behalf of Baron Von Muller, who is currently absent on a professional tour of the country,4 I have the honour to send you some seeds of Eucalyptus rostrata, commonly called Red Gum (iron tree).5
This tree, that stretches from the colony of Victoria to the tropical areas of Australia, offers a very strong and hard wood, incorruptible whether in soil, water or the open air, for which reason it is adaptable for railway sleepers, for construction of bridges and for defence and other similar works, being at the same time an excellent wood for charcoal.
Although this tree does not grow as rapidly as Eucalyptus globulus, it does well in humid places, on the banks of rivers, or on the edges of lagoons, even when they are partly flooded; but it also grows on dry land where, in fact, it produces the best wood.
I have no doubt that its introduction into South America will give the best results, as has happened in India.
You will receive at the same time some other less important seeds, but I hope they will be equally well received.
The package is addressed to Messrs. C. Blackith and Co., Lower Thames Street, London.
I have the honor of being your obedient servant
J. G. Luehmann6
Eucaliptus globulas
Eucaliptus rostrata
Typesetter's error for globulus?
Typesetter's error for J. G. Luehmann?
Error for Rural Society of Argentina, based in Buenos Aires.
M was visiting the Otway forests, see M to J. Hooker, 22 September 1874 (in this edition as 74-02-22b).
The parenthetical comment may have been inserted by the translator; it is not a usual common name in Australia.
The letter is followed (p. 189) by
'Nombres de las semillas á que se refiere la carta que antedcede.' [Names of the seeds referred to in the preceding letter]
1. Eucaliptus rostrata (árbol de fierro). [Eucalyptus; Eucaliptus is a frequent Spanish spelling]
2. Cordylime indivisa. [Typesetter's error for Cordyline?]
3. Pandanus pedimentatus. [Typesetter's error for Pandanus pedunculatus?]
4. Tristania conferta.
5. Achras australis.
6. Cordyline de Nueva Zelanda. [Cordyline of New Zealand]
7. Siphonoder australis. [Typesetter's error for Siphonodon australis?]
The list is followed by 'Distribucion que se ha heco de las semillas' [Distribution that has been made of the seeds], and a list of names of more than 70 persons or organizations.
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Semillas de Australia' [Ausralian seeds], Anales de la Sociedad Rural Argentina, vol. 8 (1874), p. 188 (B74.06.04). It is preceded by ' Con la carta que tradueimos (sic: traducimos)) à continuacion, la Sociedad Rural ha ecibido varias semillas, cuyos nombres van anotadosmas abajo.' [With the letter that we translate below, the Rural Society has received several seeds, the names of which are listed below.]
Please cite as “FVM-74-02-24a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on