Melbourne,
20 May 1889.
Rob. Watson Esqr,
Engineer in Chief of the Railway-Department.
Dear Sir
The sample of timber and accompanying fruiting branchlets, just submitted to me,1 belong to Eucalyptus Stuartiana, the Apple-scented Gum-tree. Not many reliable observations are extant on the value of the wood of this tree, and I have great doubts as to its durability underground. Perhaps it might be advisable, to ascertain through your local officers from settlers about Myrtleford,2 what are their experiences concerning this timber there, when used for posts. Much may depend on the circumstance, whether the tree grows in wet low soil or on the drier slopes. If not some reassuring information is forthcoming, I could not advise this sort of wood to be used underground.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Eucalyptus Stuartiana
Please cite as “FVM-89-05-20c,” 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