West Kempsey1
14th August 1885
My dear Baron
I am sending you the leaves, and seed vessels, of one of our Eucalypts found growing on the Coast here of which I shall be glad of your opinion; also the branch of a brush tree found also, near the Coast, which I have had tested by several engravers who speak very favourably of it; this tree is generally of irregular growth, and attains occasionally up to two feet in diameter, the wood is remarkably denser, hard, and heavy and is, I have no doubt, of very considerable value for engraving purposes, will you kindly tell me what it is?2 — The bark of this tree is of a greenish grey, rather smooth, and the heart wood, is rather dark, with figure — When dry this timber is so hard as to turn the edge of an American Axe.
I am very sorry to learn that my Nephew in the far North West3 has not send you any specimens of plants as requested by me, it is possible that my letter may have miscarried, and I have written to him again, and I hope that success may this time be the result —
Sincerely hoping this may find you quite well
I am my dear Baron
Yours faithfully
Augustus Rudder
N.B. Please address
Snails Bay
Balmain
Sydney
P.S. I forgot to mention that the bark of the Eucalypt is persistent, and stringy, like stringy bark, excepting on the upper branches where it is smooth and deciduous — The wood is close grained and of a brown colour
AR
Eucalyptus
NSW.
MS marginal annotation by M: 'Olea paniculata', presumably the undated specimen at MEL 2273480, collected by Rudder from Kempsey. Rudder sent specimens of other species he thought suitable for wood-engraving, see A. Rudder to M, 1 November 1885 and M to T. Meehan, 22 February 1886.
Not identified.
MS found with specimen of Eucalyptus siderophloia (MEL 231658). MS annotation by M: 'Answ | 21/8/85 | F.v.M.' Letter not found.
Please cite as “FVM-85-08-14,” 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