Melbourne 23/11/85.
Sir
I beg to send you some fresh seeds of the British Marram, the most important [of] all grasses to bind drift sand coasts. Please cause this seed [to] be scattered on several places [of] loose sand near your beach [awa]y from traffic and pastoral [ani]mals and kindly let me know [subs]equently what success attended [the] experiment1
Respectfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
The letter was evidently also sent to Belfast Borough Council (Minute book 8, 04 February 1884 - 27 September 1886, p. 387, VPRS 11097/P0001, Belfast Borough Council records VA 4030, Public Record Office, Victoria) and as M to Portland Municipal Council, November 1885 (in this edition as 85-11-00).
At the meeting of the Town Council, Councillor R. S. Harris moved that M be thanked for forwarding the seeds, and be informed of the success of the experiment. Councillor P. J. McGennan seconded the motion, which was then carried (Warrnambool standard, 2 December 1885, p. 2). H. MacDonald to M, 3 December 1885 is the letter of thanks.
MS in another hand and signed by M.
Please cite as “FVM-85-11-23a,” 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