THE JOUENAL 



OF 



THE LINNEAN SOCIETY. 



On the Flora of/the Kuram Valley, &c, Afghanistan. By J. E. 

 T. AitchtSon, F.L.S., Surgeon-Major H.M. Bengal Army. 

 [Read February 19, 1880.] 



I. G\ENEBAL OBSEBVATIONS ON THE FLOBA AND ON THE 

 DlSTBICTS TBATEBSED. 



1. Introductory Remarks. 

 In the winter of 1878 1 accompanied the troops under General (now 

 Sir Frederick) Boberts's command during the advance of the Kuram 

 Field Force into the Kuram Valley, at the taking of the Pewarkotal, 

 and during its further advance to near the Shutar-G-ardan. From 

 what I then saw of the country it appeared to me to be an interest- 

 ing one in a botanical point of view ; and therefore, early in 1879, 1 

 proposed to the Quartermaster- General, Major Collett, that it 

 might prove advantageous to science if some one were appointed 

 to accompany the column in the contemplated advance on Kabul. ' 

 General Boberts at once recommended the proposal to superior 

 authority, which ultimately resulted in my being attached to this 

 force as botanist. I made my arrangements, and joined the force 

 at Kuram on the 14th of April, from which date I commenced to 

 make my collections in earnest. Peace having been proclaimed, 

 no further advance took place. I therefore directed my investi- 

 gations to the flora of the portion of the country enclosed within 

 the red line traced on the map before you (exhibited at reading 

 of paper). 



LINN. JOUBN. — BOTANY, VOL. XYIII. B 



