To Eugène Ortolan¹    25 March 1883

Easterday,

1883.²

It is with sorrow, dear Chevalier Ortolan, that I hear of your leaving us, but I hope that we will have in Victoria the benefit again of your eminent services after some furlong³ of yours at home.

With gladness shall I avail myself of your kind offer, to take to France somethings for me. I should like to send some books to Professor van Tieghem, Dr Cosson and Dr Bernier, also some dried plants. The seeds, desired by you, I will be happy to supply, so far as I can; - if I forward to you some small quantity of the seeds of our best trees for experiments in culture, we could send from here larger quantities afterwards. The sending of small quantities would involve no expenditure. As regards the seeds of the Norfolk-Island Pine, they loose quickly their vitality;- the seeds will therefore have to be procured fresh in Norfolk-Island or from cultivated trees in New South Wales, and must be packed in dry earth, to arrive in a fit state for germination in Europe. - Perhaps you will find, that trees on the estates of friends of yours are seed-bearing in the south of France, where - as well as in Algeria - the Araucaria excelsa and also Araucaria Cunninghami have produced fruits already for years.

In your absence I will always gladly communicate with the excellent Vice Consul, in any affairs of cultural interest or sendings concerning the rural advancement of your great country.

Very regardfully

your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Araucaria Cunninghami

Araucaria excelsa