From William Kirton to Ferdinand von Mueller   9 Feb 1885

Bulli1 9th Febry 85

To Baron Ferd von Mueller, Government Botanist &c.

Hon Sir

I duly received your letter of the 29 ult2 asking for information respecting Timber no 55. It was taken from a Tree that had been felled by sawyers, it had been down about a month when I came on them cutting it, hence the bad specimen but I knew the Tree well for the last ten or twelve years and always considered it quite distinct from any other I had seen, but it was on private Property and I dare not attempt to cut it down.

I3 was a good sised4 Tree measuring three feet in diameter six feet from ground from that downwards very spurry, some of them rising full three feet from the ground and completely covering it for several Rods arround, the Barrel straight and tapering to about eighteen inches at the first limb length of Barrel 70 feet Height when standing 120 feet, with larger branching [Head] the picture of health, perfectly sound, and when felled, it of5 had several bushels of seed upon it.

Its Habitat was in one of the small aluvial flats amongst the spurs leading up to the Mountain about one mile from the Sea Coast, and half a mile from the Mountain Range, and a few Rods west of my Farm, I have not seen it in Flower, no doubt there are others about and some day I hope to find them. I have sent some leaves as disired — the best I could get. I will also indeavour to get Fruit of Laurineae. I will gather and dry some Native Plums for you.

thanking you kindly for naming the Timber

Believe me Hon Sir

yours Most Respectfully

William Kirton

Laurineae

NSW.

Letter not found.

It?

sized?

sic.

MS found with a specimen of Elaeocarpus kirtonii (MEL 2226628). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 15/2/85'. Letter not found.

Please cite as “FVM-85-02-09,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/85-02-09