20./7./84.
Do you think, dear Miss Bate, that the Cassia, sent in your last letter is indigenous near Mt Dromedary?1 In that case I like much to have some more well dried specimens in all stages, also a note of special locality and of height of the shrub. It is pleasing for me to learn, that you will continue to collect when returning. You are one of the very few Ladies in all Australia, who have any taste for botanic science, in contrast to what is observed in all Europe and North America.
Strange, that not even the children of splitters or selectors like to earn occasionally a few shillings as pocket-money by collecting what appears to them as rare among plants near you. I believe more parasitical Orchids could yet be found in the Mt Dromedary Ranges. How many Grasstrees have you there?
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
I must write your kind attention also particularly to the floating aquatic plants, which no doubt some of your young Gentlemen neighbours would get for you from the creeks and swamps.
Cassia
NSW.
Please cite as “FVM-84-07-20,” 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