In a Valley of the Hamersley range1 occurs a fan palm on what is called the Mill Stream — about this Palm I should like to have some more information and if you know any settler in that locality or region you might be able to obtain kindly answers to the following questions.
1 Are the leaves while quite young each year copper colored.
2 Has the juvenile Palm the leaf [stalk] more spiny than the adult Palm
3 Is it found in more then2 one valley
4 Are the seeds variable in size.
5 Are the leaves when fully formed more like a fully expanded fan.
6 Could some fresh seeds be obtained as many as can be sent by post.3
WA.
than?
Dale continued that he did not know of anyone in the area in question who could answer M's questions and asked for help in obtaining the information required. On 21 April 1892, Phillips forwarded Dale's memorandum with a minute: 'Sargeant Beresford is requested to use his best endeavours to obtain the information solicited by Baron von Mueller'. On 13 May 1892, Beresford, Sergeant of Police at Roebourne, WA, forwarded the request to Henry Francis Keep, the Acting Government Resident at Roeburne. Keep's reply of 10 June was forwarded to Dale on 21 June and he forwarded it to M; see W. Dale to M, 22 June 1892.
Letter not found. The text given here was reproduced by Dale in a memorandum to G. Phillips, Commissioner of Police, WA, dated 'Perth April 18th 1892'. The file is marked '639/92' and stamped 'Police Department Chief Office'. MS found in a parcel of Australian Calamus. Dale introduced the text thus: 'Baron Sir Ferd. von Mueller K.C.M.G. writes under date March 21st as follows'.
Please cite as “FVM-92-03-21a,” 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