It is the Carole Maritime,1 called in England Sea Rocket. It is not uncommon on the sand coasts of Europe and abounds also in America, and North Africa. I noticed it many years ago at Port Phillip and Western port, and also subsequently at Belfast, Warrnambool, and the north coast of Tasmania. In the economy of nature it helps to bind sand, like the vines of the Mesem Chrysanthemums,2 spreading kinds of Atriphix3 and some other saline herbs. By themselves these herbaceous plants are not sufficient to [cope]4 with the moving sand waves, but as auxiliaries to the great sand reeds (Elymus and Psamma) with long running roots, they are with broom &c., very important. Our Victorian Government has, on my suggestion, procured two invoices of seeds of plants such as are recommended for fixing the sand.5 A share of the second invoice which arrived by the Somersetshire will soon be available at your town. Some other seeds of plants useful for the same purpose are contained in that parcel.6
Atriphix
Carole Maritime
Elymus
Mesem Chrysanthemum
Psamma
Typesetter's error for Cakile maritima?
Typesetter's error for Mesembryanthemum?
Typesetter's error for Atriplex?
Defective image.
The first set of seeds was received in Warrnambool, and divided between Portland, Belfast and Warrnambool (H. Read to W. Odgers, 29 July 1876, J76/8142, unit 880, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 860 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria), with a sample sent to M at his request in M to H. Read, July 1876 (in this edition as 76-07-00b) which asked for information about planting them which M provided in H. Read to M, 3 August 1876.
M to W. Odgers, 18 August 1876 reports the receipt in Melbourne of the set of seeds per Somersetshire. M advised the councils at Portland, Warrnambool and Belfast (now Port Fairy) in October that the seeds had been sent; see M to Portland Municipal Council, October 1876 (in this edition as 76-10-00c), M to H. Read, October1876 (in this edition as 76-10-00a) and M to F. Mandeville, October 1876 (in this edition as 76-10-00b).
Letter not found. The text given here is from Belfast gazette and Portland and Warrnambool advertiser, 22 September 1876, p. 2 (B76.09.11). The text is introduced by 'a well known resident of Belfast who takes an interest in the planting of the hummocks for the preventing the spread of sand landwards, lately forwarded to Baron von Mueller a specimen of an indigenous plant which has only made its appearance within the last three years. … Baron Von Mueller in acknowledging the receipt of the plant says "'.
J. Mason to M, 18 September 1876, is the letter covering the specimen (MEL 1004017), and the letter is dated based on M's annotation to that letter.
Please cite as “FVM-76-09-20a,” 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