the grass sent is the Doab Grass (Cynodon dactylon), widely indigenous or naturalised through the warmer zones of the globe It is a valuable pasture grass, though not very bulky, remarkably persistent to its soil in regions where no severe frosts occur—so much so that it may become troublesome on cultivated ground by its creeping roots—eradication being difficult. For pasture lands not too dry and situated in mild climes it is always fitted, as it is nutritive and as herds and flocks like it very much. For lawns, embankments, fern tree tubs, &c., it is also most eligible. In the hottest and driest tracts of country it may endure all adversity, but would no longer thrive to any great practical advantage. A good renovator on exhausted soil if not intended for hay.
Cynodon dactylon
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'The Farm. Answers to correspondents', Leader (Melbourne), 12 May 1894, p. 5 (B94.05.02). Assuming that the reply would be published in the next available issue in this weekly newspaper, it is dated to 5 May 1894 as the likely earliest date it would have been sent.
M's text is introduced as follows: 'SAMPLE OF GRASS—S.S., Castlemaine.—In reply to your letter asking "the name of the enclosed grass, its suitability or otherwise for pasture of stock or sheep, soil and climate best suited to it, if a good summer grass, would it be easily eradicated if required, how would it do in the loose soil of Gippsland, would it spread so as to be a nuisance near cultivated ground? The sample sent is from poor, dry, hard land where nothing else seems to grow, and quite fresh and green during the summer," Baron von Mueller informs us that'.
Please cite as “FVM-94-05-04,” 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