vi PREFACE, 
Cooks, C.LE., F.L.S., on the completion in 1908 of his Bombay 
Flora on which he‘had been engaged for ten years, volunteered 
his aid for the Flora Capensis. He rendered great service by 
filling up many gaps in the present section undisposed of at 
the moment. I had hoped to receive from him more extended 
contributions, but while occupied on Amarantacee he was 
seized with illness which terminated fatally on 5th November, 
1910. (Obituary notice, Kew Bulletin, 1910, pp. 350-352.) 
The death of Harry Botvus, D.Sc, F.L.S., in England on 
25th May, 1911 (obituary notice, Kew Bulletin, 1911, pp. 275— 
277) is something more than the loss of a contributor of 
specialized accomplishments. In his knowledge of the South 
African flora it may be said with confidence that Dr. Botus 
had no living rival. I cannot do better than quote a few 
words from Professor PEARSON'S penetrating appreciation of 
his work and character (Kew Bulletin, 1911, pp. 319-322) :— 
“By common consent Dr. Bovs occupied a unique and 
honoured place amongst botanical workers in South Africa. 
His death removes one of the most striking figures from the’ 
ranks of her scientific men, and leaves a vacancy which no 
man can fill, In the annals of South African Botany his 
name and his record will be written in large characters.” 
Dr. Botus took more than a keen interest in the progress of 
this work. As has been acknowledged in previous prefaces, . 
Kew has received from him a continuous stream of fresh and 
novel material. Nor can it be doubted ‘that his position and 
reputation in South Africa weighed with the Legislature of 
Cape Colony in inducing it to make successive grants in aid 
of its preparation and publication. ' Having during his lifetime 
endowed the Chair of Botany in the South African College, 
he bequeathed to it his herbarium and library and:a considerable 
portion of his fortune. a 20 pa) 
From Volume IV. onwards the area comprised in the Flora 
has been extended to the ‘Tropic. In many of the regions 80. 
included material is scanty or wholly wanting. - It is therefore: 
with no small satisfaction “that I am’ able ‘to record’ that the” 
PERCY SLADEN Memorial: Expedition (assisted: by a grant from 
the: Royal Society of London) worked between Ceres’ Read it 
