I would advise that seeds of the Blue Gum tree be sown experimentally if the soil is deep and pervious there, as nothing grows quicker. If high shelter is wanted, other eucalypts also might be tried, or the Black and the Silver Wattle seeds; these are all cheaply purchasable in Melbourne. With regard to conifers, the Pinus insignis is the quickest of all in growth. Pinaster1 P. Haleppensis2 grow also comparatively fast and would finally yield turpentine. P. pinea bears edible nuts though they are small. Gleditischias are also recommendable, and have the advantage of being protected by their long and ramified thorn. Seedlings, which if planted mean gaining one year, can be obtained in most plant nurseries. Elms, Poplars and the British Oak grow also with comparative rapidity, but like the Gleditschias are out of accord for mass planting in the evergreen zone of vegetation here, as they are leafless for nearly half a year. If the soil is moist, the Weeping Willow is capital. The ordinary orchard trees could also be chosen and would soon afford fruits. If the shelter is not required to be very high, then stools of the bamboo reed could be planted, which within some few months would produce a copse row.
Gleditsichia
Pinus Pinaster
Pinus Haleppensls
Pinus insignis
Pinus pinea
Please cite as “FVM-96-08-00d,” 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