It may be remarked that only those plants which are quick in their growth should be selected for shelter-plantations. Tamarix (gallica) adapts itself to almost any soil—wet, sandy, or even saline; and has the great advantage of being easily reared from cuttings, like the willow. Where the ground is not brackish, the eucalyptus trees would give the earliest shelter, besides attaining a greater height than most other plants; tamarix would, therefore, only serve as a surrounding copse, while the other would form a high break-wind. The E. globulus grows quickest, and requires less attention than almost any other species: but should the land be rather swampy, the E. rostrata, or redgum, deserves preference. The feather-leaved wattle (acacia decurrens) grows rapidly; but, like the eucalyptus, it dislikes saline soil. Should, therefore, the ground be salt, and subject to inundation, or contain stagnant moisture, then the so-termed swamp teatree (melaleuca erixifolia)1 could be planted; large roots of this plant can be transferred from one place to another, and if set out would soon afford a dense screen of vegetation. On sandy ground the golden wattle (acacia pycantha)2 would be one of the best covers against storms. As the weeping willow does not seem to have succeeded at Millicent,3 perhaps the Huntington willow, or some other tall species would thrive there—at least in those places where the water is not too impure or stagnant. The white, black, and Canadian poplars shoot up pretty quickly, even in nearly barren sands; and the pines are amongst the most valuable trees for affording shelter of any kind. Pinus pinaster, Pinus halepensis, P. insignis and P. canariensis should be tried. These do not, however, spring up fast enough to satisfy immediate requirements, and hence at first they must be considered auxiliaries destined to provide permanent shelter for future years. By adding the ordinary cypress, and by placing throughout the shelter-plantations the bamboo reed—Arundo donax—a picturesque scenic appearance will be given to the copses. Cuttings of the Buddleya madagascarienis4 could also be put in experimentally, as this ever-green, ever flowering, and ever-tidy tall bush grows for some years with great vigour and celerity.
Acacia decurrens
Acacia pycantha
Buddleya madagascarienis
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus rostrata
Melaleuca erixifolia
Pinus canariensis
Pinus halepensis
Pinus insignis
Pinus pinaster
Tamarix gallica
M. ericifolia?
Acacia pycnantha?
SA, c. 50 km north-west of Mount Gambier.
M used the spelling Buddleya for Buddleja in B76.12.04, p. 36, but had changed the spelling to Buddlea in B85.12.03, p. 61 and subsequent editions.
Letter not found. The text given here is quoted in 'Report on drained lands, South-East' by MacIvor to H. J. Andrews, Secretary, Crown Lands Office, Adelaide, dated 30 July 1880, and published in Border watch (Mount Gambier, SA), 1 September 1880, p. 2. M's text, under 'Shelter—Plantation', is introduced by MacIvor as follows: 'Mr. Perkins having sought information as to the plants best suited for shelter purposes, I consulted my distinguished friend, Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., on the subject, and obtained the following interesting particulars:—'. M's text (B80.09.01) is dated to July 1880 as the latest it could have been written.
Please cite as “FVM-80-07-00d,” 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