May I ask you to insert that in Victoria are wanted large quantities of seeds of such American Vines as are proof against the Phylloxera, or as are fit to cope with that dreadful insect if used as stocks for grafts of the various sorts of superior European Vines. A list is appended from Planchon's Vignes Americaines.1 Seeds of such would find a ready and remunerative sale, or if sent to the Baron direct seeds of other valuable plants would be sent in exchange. Seeds fresh this autumn should be secured in America from the Grapes indicated. The Scuppernong in two varieties was raised many years ago in the Botanic Garden, Melbourne, from American seeds, as it is such a remarkable gigantic variety, and yields an excellent wine of its own.
1. Vitis vulpina: Scuppernong, Mich., Thomas. —Tenderpulp: Richmond, Pedor. No Phylloxera vastatrix on the root, Phylloxera galls on the leaves very rare, but stock not readily serving for grafting of European Vines.
2. Vitis aestivalis: Herbemont, Cunningham, Nortone, Virginia, Hermann, Jacques Lenoir, as well as some other varieties. — Phylloxera on the root, but not destructively; galls rather rare on the leaves; stock fit for grafting.
3. Vitis cordifolia: Clinton, Taylor, Marion, and other varieties. — Phylloxera on the root, but not destructively; galls frequent on the leaves, but without ill effect; stock fit for direct grafting.
4. Vitis Labrusca: Concord, Ive's Seedling, Dracut Amber, Lozaella, Martha, Christine, York, Madeira, or Vorlington. — Phylloxera on the root, but not destructively; galls rare on the leaves; stock fit for grafting.
Besides these some Phylloxera-proof hybrids exist, originating from V. vitifera2 crossed with American species: these, as recorded by Dr. Focke3 and some other writers, are fertile; hence their seeds ought also to be secured for trial culture.
Vitis aestivalis
Vitis cordifolia
Vitis Labrusca
Vitis vitifera
Vitis vulpina
Both Planchon (1876) and Planchon (1875) discuss the vines listed here, and their resistance to Phylloxera.
V. vinifera?
Focke (1881), p. 101, has a list of crosses between Vitis vinifera and American species, with notes on their fertility.
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'American vines for Australia', Gardeners' chronicle, 3 September 1881, p. 311 (B81.09.01). M had listed the species of which he sought seeds in a report to Government on Phylloxera (see M to T. Wilson, 16 June 1881), and this letter is dated to June on the assumption that he would have written seeking the seeds close to that time. It is introduced by 'Baron Mueller writes:—'.
Please cite as “FVM-81-06-00a,” 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