BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 277 
ham, Dieffenbach, Mr. Bidwill, Dr. Edgerley, Dr. Logan, 
Dr. Sinclair, and though last, not least in point of import- 
ance, the rich collections recently sent to Sir W. J. Hooker 
by Mr. Colenso, several of whose new species have been 
already figured in the * Icones Plantarum." During the year 
and a half that must elapse, previous to printing this part of 
the general work, itis hoped that many novelties will be re- 
ceived from the middle island, which has as yet been but 
partially investigated ; and we earnestly invite those who may 
have it in their power to aid in rendering the Flora of New 
Zealand as complete as possible, that they will kindly do so, 
by the communication of good specimens. Even in the North- 
ern Island, the lofty mountains have been by no means inves- 
tigated as they deserve ; yet we are well aware that the hasty 
Visits paid to these elevated regions by Dr. Dieffenbach, Mr. 
Bidwill, and Mr. Colenso, have been productive of several 
new and very remarkable plants. It has been alréady men- 
tioned in this Journal that four distinct species of Beech have 
been detected, inhabiting the mountain regions, or the south- 
ern extremity of the group; and it is probable that they may 
be found sufficiently hardy to bear the climate of Britain. 
One of them (Fagus fusca, Hook. Ic. Plant. Tabs. DCXXX, 
DCXXXI) , is already in cultivation in the Royal Botanic Gar- 
dens of Kew, but it is as yet too young to be planted abroad 
with a prospect of success. The Flora Nove Zealandis will 
form 1 vol. with 140 plates ; and will be succeeded lastly by: 
Part III. FLora TASMANICA; 
or, the Botany of Van Diemen’s Island, in 2, or probably 
3 volumes, illustrated with 200 plates. This will in itself be 
a Herculean task, and the author would shrink from the per- 
formance of it, were it not for the aid which has been or will 
be afforded by his friends, whose names will be more parti- 
cularly mentioned in the work itself ; but it would be unpar- 
donable not to mention on the present occasion the valuable 
‘sistance and encouragement already experienced from Ro- 
nald Gunn, Esq., the then Private Secretary to the excel- 
