INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



LJBRARY 

 NEW YORK 

 BOTANICAL 



OARDBN. 



In dosing the Third Volume of the "Tropical Agriculturist," we have to direct attention 

 to the increased amount of useful information afforded, and to the great variety of topics treated. 

 From month to month we have endeavoured to lay before our readers the latest results of practical 

 experience and scientific teaching in all that concerns tropical agriculture ; and our ambition has been 

 to make this periodical not only indispensable to the planter but of service to business men and 

 capitalists, never forgetting that agriculture trenches upon every department of human knowledge and 

 science, besides being the basis of all human wealth. While directing our attention chiefly to the 

 products most prominently mentioned on our title-page, we have never omitted to notice minor in 

 dustries likely to fit in wiih tropical conditions ; and our readers have an ample guarantee in the pages 

 before them that, in the future, no pains will be spared to bring together all available information 

 both from the West and East, the same being examined in the light of the teachings of common- 

 sense as well as of prolonged tropical experience in this the leading Crown and Planting Colony of 

 the British Empire. A full and accurate Index affords the means of ready reference to every subject 

 treated in this third volume which we now place in our subscribers' hands. 



N.B. — The present volume derives special value from the fact that it includes a reprint in full 

 of the elaborate and valuable Report on the Forests of Ceylon by Mr. F. D' A. Vincent. In describing 

 the Forests of the Colony, Mr. Vincent deals with many details of the physical characteristics and 

 meteorology of the Island, and brings in a vast amount of miscellaneous information regarding Ceylun, 

 its people and products, not to be found elsewhere. 



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.A. M. & J. FERC;USON. 



Colombo, 21st June i5 



