LIBRARY 



NEW YORK 



TO OUR READERS. 



OAR 



In closing the Fourth Volume of the *' Tropical Agriculturist," we have but to 

 repeat what we have said on similar previous occasions, and to direct attention to the 

 increased 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 even 

 department of human knowledge and science, besides being the basis of all human wealth. 

 While directing our attention chiefly to the products prominently mentioned in our 

 title, 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, n<» 

 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. 



Dr. Tkimen's Report on the Royal Botanic and Economic Gardens in Ceylon is repub- 

 lished in full, in a separate form, in the present volume. We are ready to give copious 

 extracts from, if not to print in exttuso, the Reports of all other Public Botanic Gardens 

 situated in or near to the tropics which may reach us. Many of these Reports we already 

 receive and utilize for the benefit of our planting readers. 



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



in this fourth 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 kindh 



extended to its predecessors. 



O^ In conclusion, we must tender special thaViks to our readers and contributors, and our 



•" wish is that all our friends may continue to write instructively and read with approval : for 



c^ then indeed must the " Tropical Agriculturist " continue to do well. 

 O 



Q A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 



Colombo, i 2th June 1885. 



