PREFACE. IX 



each district. The nature, also, of my occupation as a 

 medical practitioner in the country, has been of some ad- 

 vantage, as in my almost daily rides I have had opportuni- 

 ties of watching each plant during its period of flowering, 

 and perfecting its fruit. There still remains, however, an 

 extensive and interesting field for Botanical research : tlier 

 are still left many plants undiscovered and undescribed, a 

 rich reward to stimulate to exertion those who may follow 

 in the same path. It is not the work of a single individual, 

 even if favoured with unusual length of life, and gifted in 

 the highest degree with mental and bodily energy, to com 

 plete a perfect history of the Botany of an Island like Ja- 

 maica. It would have been vain for me, in hope of accom- 

 plishing this, to have waited from year to year, exposed 

 to many contingencies and accidents, any one of which 

 might have rendered all my labours in vain, and all the in- 

 formation I have acquired as if it had never been known. 

 I have therefore taken the present opportunity to offer the 

 result of my labours to the Public, trusting it will be found 

 to give a tolerably accurate account of what is at present 

 known of the vegetable productions of this Island, and in 

 the hope that it may be found serviceable to those who in 

 aftertimes may follow in the same course, and engage, un- 

 der more favourable auspices, in the task of perfecting the 

 History of the Flora of Jamaica. 



