u 



PREFACE, 



# 



ledge of the rest. Plates giving a good representation of the general aspect of a group may 



often be found to supply this knowledge and in India, where large general herbarea (for 

 the whole world) do not exist^ and little progress in the study of natural affinities has been 

 made^ are therefore nearly indispensable to the student of this system of Botany, since by 

 seeing several species of an order arranged together and put in contrast with those of 

 some other order^ he may acquire such an idea of the appearance of a group, although he 

 may not be able to explain it to others, as will make a strong impression on himself and 

 prove eminently useful in advancing his own researches and in preparing his mind for en- 

 tering on the more abstract and sublime parts of the study. 



According to these views, the correotnesa of whicli can scarcely, T presume, be questioned, 

 it must be evident to every one, at all conversant with the subject, that this work, however 

 humble in execution, is far otherwise in design and promises, if sufficient support is given 

 to admit of its extension to three or four such volumes as the one now offered to the public, 

 to prove one of the most useful yet published on Indian Botany, by enabling all those desirous 

 of acquiring a knowledge of the plants of this country, to familiarize themselves with appear- 

 ance of groups of indigenous plants, by furnishing correct figures of numerous species of 

 each,in a form so compact and at a cost so moderate that none can complain either of its bulk, and 

 consequent unfitness for ready reference, nor of the heavy charge to which he musi submit in 

 possessing himself of a copy, 10 rupees being but a small charge for 100 elaborately executed 

 quarto plates, especially in this country, where the material for getting up such a work is so 

 very expensive- I am well aware of the imperfections in the printing of some of the plates, 

 especially of those of the earlier numbers, a defect happily diminishing in each successive 

 issue. But when it is considered, that Lithography is yet comparatively in its infancy, even 

 in Europe and decidedly so in this country, that success or failure often depends on atmos- 

 pheric changes not cognizable by the senses, that this climate during a considerable part of 

 the year is most unfavourable and that at the commencement of the w^ork, the experience which 

 has been gradually acquired in its progress and which enables us in a great degree to counteract 

 these obstacles, was altogether wanting, few objections will I think be uri,'ed on that head, 

 "When in addition T state that these two works were the first of the kind ever undertaken 



in Madras, that I had personally 



to superintend every thing, to supply from 



my private 



resources the stimulus to exertion on the part of those employed in a new and untried oc- 

 cupation, that my own knowledge of drawing and Lithography was slight, and lastly, that 

 I had to encounter all these difficulties while attending to my own avocations, I trust ample 

 reason will have been urged, in extenuation of even greater imperfections than either of them 

 present, the more so when I add, that the obstacles to be overcome w^re such as no one, but 

 myself, can form an adequate conception of. 



-r 



To compare this work, commenced and prosecuted under such adverse circumstances, 

 uncheered by public approbation, and so slenderly supported that hitherto it has been con- 

 ducted^at a very considerable loss, with the luxurious and costly Lithographic botanical 

 works of Europe would indeed be doing it an injustice, but few I believe will be found un- 

 generous enough to try it by such a standard. 



Our knowledge of the India Flora though extensive is far from being widely disseminat- 

 ed and has been obtained through the indefatigable industry of but a small number of 

 enthusiastic votaries of science. This paucity of labourers, in a country affording so rich and 

 interesting a harvest, is, 1 believe, solely attributable to the want of local Floras and the 



consequent difficulties with which the study of Indian Botany has been beset. To obviate 



*^ 



,^-^.i t.yjj^\ Fj_. :=__.- 



