LIBRARY 



TO OUR READERS. !',f;™'^ 



BOTANICAL 

 UaRDPM. 



In closing the Fifth Volume 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 aflbrded, 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 nervice to business men and capitalists, 

 never forgetting that agriculture trenches upon every department of human knowledge 

 and science, besides being the basis of human 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 li^ht 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 lull in a separate torm, in the present volume an'd throughout 

 our pages will be found reviews of, and extracts from the Reports of other Botanic 

 Gardens situated in or near the tropics. We are ready to give copious extracts 

 from, if not to reprint in e.xteiiso, 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 fifth 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. 



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

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

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



CT, .\. M. cS: J. FERCU.SON. 



2i roLOMno : 15th June, 1886, 



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