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From Lancel de Hamel to Ferdinand von Mueller   2 Feb 1893

Legislative Assembly

Western Australia

The Hon: Baron von Mueller K.C.M.G. &c

My dear Sir

I have been taking a run through the Kojonup district1 & as I never travel with my eyes shut I send you the result of my researches — viz. 2 grasses & 2 Fodder plants —

Grass No. 1 — (also the small loose piece supposed to be the same) is only found in & around Kojonup. How it came there is a mystery, but it is spreading & is a very valuable grass — makes Hay like the ordinary English grasses — grows & thrives well in dry sandy or stiff country & seems worth fostering — Have you seen it before & what is it? I have collected some seed & am going to try the effect of cultivation on it —

Grass No. 2. grows luxuriantly on dry & particularly on stony ground. It is green for a long time for even when the stems wither it sends up young green shoots from the roots — Horses & cattle are very fond of it — It is also spreading rapidly about the Kojonup district — It reminds me of that Camel grass I sent you from [Kurrachee]. Is it the same?2

Fodder plants Nos 1 & 2 are very valuable at this, the dry, season of the year — Mr Spencer assured me that it is at this season the main food of the mobs of Horses that he breeds at Balgarrup.3

No. 1 — the pointed leaf grows up as a bush —

No. 2 seems to be more of a runner or creeper —

I am most curious about grass No 1 but as I was sending that I thought I would include the others —

I had to double them all up but it you open them out they will give you their growth —

I am going down to [Paijarrah] this month & this is I believe about the season for getting that plant you want — I have kept a look out whenever down, but hitherto without success — I hope to be in Melbourne in April or May I hope to see you then —

I am sorry to say that Baker is dead — I was counting on his aid in that matter, He was anxious to do all he could, but was hardly at the House the whole session — He was very ill and broke up very suddenly4

In haste — Believe me,

Yours very faithfully

Lancel de Hamel

Albany5 — 2 Feb 1893.

1

WA.

2

MS annotation by M: 'Themeda triandra 1, Bossian Lalage. 2, Brachysema praemorsum'.

3

Balgarup, WA.

4

W. L. Baker broke his ribs in a fall and pleurisy ensued.

5

WA.

6

MS found with a specimen of Bromus diandrus (MEL 2129040). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 7/3/93. FvM'. Letter not found.

Please cite as “FVM-93-02-02,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/93-02-02