From Ferdinand von Mueller to Alexander Crawford   2 July 1894

2/7/94.

It is always a day of joy, dear Mr Crawford, when a letter arrives from you, because it conveys always generosity, sagacity and novel information. I feel honored with Miss Crawfords request to send a lithogram. She may have Lady-friends on the sources of the northern rivers of N.S.W., where from the Manning to the Clarence¹ between 3-4000 feet Beech-forests exists, known as such to local settlers, though unfortunately the name "Beech" is also given to Gmelina Leichhardti. The Australian Beeches are however (with exception of one tasmanian species[)]² evergreen. The fruits are like the English Beechnuts, but smaller. The Ladies on those rivers would likely remember, if they had seen under the real Beeches (splendid tall trees) any fungs shaped like raspberries but yellow in color.³ Among the Ladies may also perhaps [be]⁴ some, who could be inspired for collecting plants, especially as many novelties must yet exist in yonder regions. You know, that I am always willing to send in return from here collections of seeds of rare plants, I forward seeds of one the Burma-Bamboos, which came in — what rarely happens — a germinable state. You must sow them at once in a box, and keep them under shelter til warm weather sets in again. This Dendrocalamus is almost sure to bear your clime, if the young seedlings are covered during the first winter by brush or Calico

If your Xanthorrhoea is the big species, it would be X arborea. A piece of leaves and spike would enable me to make out what it is

Your post-regulations⁵ admit only of the sendings of ½ lb parcels But of course several parcels could be sent; nevertheless I must not tax your exertions and time too severely. I suppose you have the true Euc. pauciflora there with elongated leaves and longitudinal main veins There is only one other species with leaves longitudinally veined, namely E. stellulata, but the tree is smaller with somewhat greenish bark and leaves of much less size.

Best thanks for the splendid Catalogue⁶

What seeds can I best send from here? also to Mr Tyson. Ought I to write to him? What is his position, adress, full name?

The pretty Tiarella cordifolia is a native of N.W. America. It was introduced into culture already in the last century

Any Agave may sport into a variety with striped leaves.

With regardful remembrance your

Ferd. von Mueller

Agave

Dendrocalamus

Eucalyptus pauciflora

Eucalyptus stellulata

Gmelina Leichhardti

Tiarella cordifolia

Xanthorrhoea arborea