From Charles Fawcett to Ferdinand von Mueller   13 Mar 1879

Ballina.¹ 13 March. 79.

My dear Baron,

I fear I have got into sad confusion of late respecting my numbers, in consequence of the loss of a memorandum. I sent a parcel to the Steamer yesterday and it strikes me that the numbers, then used, E 10, 11, 12, and 13 are those of grapes & Juncus sent from here on the 1st of this month. If you will kindly alter them so as to follow consecutively the last number in the lot sent on that date you will oblige me. As to the Cordylines there will be more difficulty than I thought as from some climatic cause there is very little fruit this year. There was only one other bunch where I got D3 from. I thought D4 would have been red, but you will know whether it differs from D3. C. cannafolia² I sent from Lismore³ is of a totally different habit, erect and much stouter in the stem; and, though it may have a second head, it does not branch like those I have sent from here. The one marked C95, without stem, has not fruited this season, that I can hear of. I have hear⁴ of a red fruited one which I shall most probably sent⁵ on Saturday morning — As to the Loranthus — The flowers sent before were not from the same plant, but growing in the same clump of trees, apart from all others. Some of the fruits were green when sent, but others (ripe) had a reddish stalk and of the same colour at that end. Whether they are poisonous I don't know, but I did not get the taste out of my mouth all day — The Loranthus sent 1st March was not from within a mile of the other and across a broad creek — The loquat coloured fruit was quite green when sent — When ripe it will scarcely go sound to Melbourne, as it decays rapidly like a medlar. I will however send some. I regret to say we are now reduced to one Steamer — The Platypus was damaged severely last trip here & when repaired must replace the Ballina, wrecked at Port Macquarie and the Bonnie Dundee was run down some where near Sydney Heads the night before last. With best wishes, I am,

My dear Baron

yours truly

Charles. H. Fawcett:

Baron Ferd von Mueller.

&c &c &c.

P.S. I wait a reply as to what I wrote about Dr Woolls⁶ — Are you & he friends?

Cordyline cannafolia

Juncus

Loranthus