PREFACE. 
Tue third volume of the Flora Capensis was published in 
1865. The following year Professor Harvey, who had been 
its principal author and guiding spirit, died. Although in the 
preface the fourth volume is referred to as “shortly to be in 
preparation for the press,” practically nothing available 
relating to it was found amongst Professor Harvey’s papers. 
Nor did his coadjutor, Dr. Sonder, who died in 1881, undertake 
any further part in the work, 
Its continuation was urged upon Kew by Sir Henry Barkly, 
G.C.M.G., K.C.B., F.R.S., who was Governor of the Cape of 
Good Hope from 1870 to 1877. During a long official career 
in different parts of the Empire, this enlightened administrator, 
himself an ardent naturalist, never failed to foster the scientific 
interests of the colonies committed to his charge. Sir Joseph 
Hooker, at that time Director of the Royal Gardens, entrusted 
the task of continuing the work of Harvey and Sonder to me. 
But the pressure of: official duties in which I almost imme- 
diately found myself immersed, left me little time for the task, 
It became evident that it could only be accomplished by the 
co-operation of numerous workers. Another difficulty was 
the rapid expansion of British South Africa. This led to a 
continuous influx to Kew of new material, which had to be 
determined and made available for future workiag up in the 
Flora. It was soon obvious that it would be necessary to 
largely extend the area comprised by the published volumes 
and it was ultimately determined to do this still further so 
as to include, as far as possible, all known flowering plants 
occurring in the area between the Tropic of Capricorn and the 
Ocean. To the north, the present and future volumes will 
therefore be supplemented by the “ Flora of Tropical Africa.” 
