10 THE HERBARIUM OF THE 



simultaneous proceeding, and the more, as the same divisions and 

 names being published in the two works, an increased notoriety is the 

 consequence, and they mutually confirm and give authority to each other. 

 The ' Flora of Brazil ' contains, besides purely botanical descriptions 

 and plates, some very interesting articles, by M. Martius, on the vege- 

 tation of different parts of that empire, with lithographed plates, which 

 aptly illustrate the features of the principal regions, and the more strik- 

 ing spots. Latin is not ill-suited for describing a country, remarkable 

 for the plants which are named in that language : and when this learned 

 tongue is managed by an author who loves it and who uses it without 

 pedantry, we come to look back with regret to the period when this 

 universal language prevailed in science. 



{To be continued.) 



Notes on the Herbarium of the Calcutta Botanic Garden, with 

 especial reference to the completion of the Flora Indica ; by Thomas 

 Thomson, M.D., F.R.S., Supt, H. C. Bot. Garden. 



{Read before the Asiatic Society of Calcutta^) 



It is probably known to all the members of the Asiatic Society who 

 are interested in the science of Botany, that Dr. Hooker and myself 

 have undertaken the publication of a complete work on Indian plants, 

 the first volume of which, under the title of c Flora Indica,' was pub- 

 lished last year. The continuation and completion of this work is of 

 the utmost importance to the advancement of Indian Botany, which is 

 much retarded by the want of a properly digested catalogue. The 

 further progress of the work will however in a great measure depend 

 on the co-operation of botanists throughout India, the materials here, 

 though extensive, being too incomplete, to enable me to advance with- 

 out further contributions. 



I bring this subject before the Asiatic Society therefore with a double 

 object. I wish in the first place to make known the nature and extent 

 of the Herbarium belonging to the Garden; and in the second, by 

 means of the Society and the Journal, to bring to the knowledge of 

 botanists in all parts of India the assistance which it is in their power 

 to render, in furthering the progress of a work, the object of which is 

 to render available to the student of Indian plants information scattered 

 over a thousand detached works, and therefore only accessible to the 

 professional botanist. 



