TO OUR READERS. 



LIBRARY 



NEW YORK 



BOTANICAL 

 UAKUtiN. 



In closing the Sixth Vohime of the " Tropical Agriculturist," we have 

 but to repeat what we have said on similar previous occasions, in directing attention 

 to the large amount of useful information afforded, and to the great variety of topics 

 treated in our pages. 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, 

 besides being the basis of personal and communal wealth. 



While directing our attention chiefly to the products prominently mentioned 

 on our title-page, we have never omitted to notice minor industries likely to fit in 

 with 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 commonsense as well as of prolonged tropical experience in this, 

 the leading Crown and Planting Colony of the British Empire. 



The official Reports on the Royal Botanic and Economic Gardens in Ceylon 

 are republished in full in the present volume, and throughout our pages will be 

 found reviews of, and extracts from, the Reports of other Botanic Gardens situated 

 in or near the tropics. W^e are ready to give copious extracts from, if not to 

 reprint in exte^iso, the Reports of all other sub-tropical Public Botanic Gardens which 

 may reach us. Most of these Reports we already receive and utilize as above- 

 mentioned for the benefit of our planting readers. 



A full and accurate Index affords the means of ready reference to every 

 subject treated in this, the sixth volume, which we now place in our subscribers' 

 hands, in full confidence that it will be received with an amount of approval, at least 

 equal to that which has been so kindly extended to its predecessors. 



We are convinced that no more suitable or useful gift can be made to 

 the tropical planter or agriculturist, whether he be about to enter on his career, 

 or with many years of experience behind him, than the half-dozen volumes of 

 our periodical which we have now made available. They are full of information 

 bearing on every department and relating to nearly every product within the scope 

 of sub-tropical industry. 



In conclusion, we have to tender our thanks to readers and contributors, and 

 our wish that all friends may continue to write instructively and to read with approval ; 

 for then, indeed, must the "Tropical Agriculturist" continue to do well. 





A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 



en Colombo: 7th June 1887. 



I. •- J 



