3/5/89.
Rob. Watson Esqr,
Chief Engineer of Railways &c &c.
The samples, just sent by you, dear Mr Watson,1 are so far as the branchlets are concerned, not satisfactory for specific determination of the particular Eucalyptus; buds, expanded flowers and ripe fruits are wanting, which the particular Officer of your Department, stationed at Myrtleford or at Bright,2 might at least to some extent readily secure. The specimens are named Apple-Gumtree, but they seem to belong to a better species, namely E. goniocalyx, not to E Stuartiana. If ripe fruit, which can always be obtained and buds of flowers were secured, I should be able to pronounce with certainty about this species.3 The sample of timber seems however to be of fair quality.
May I ask, when likely the railway-line from Myrtle-Ford to Bright will be completed. My reason for enquiring is, that as President for the Melbourne meeting (January 1890) of the Austral Associat. for the advancement of science I am eager to learn, whether by that time the large number of assembled members could be taken by rail to Bright on an excursion-trip, thence to ascend the real Alps.4
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.5
Please cite as “FVM-89-05-03d,” 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