22 BOTANICON SINICUM. 
Tn introducing my work I may take the opportunity of ex- 
plaining in a few words the plan of arrangement. I have divided — 
it into a general and a particular part. The first, which forms _ 
the substance of the present paper, begins with a review of the — 
History of Botany, Agriculture and Materia medica of the Chinese _ 
and other Eastern Asiatic nations, entering into some details con- 
cerning the most prominent treatises and anthors in these depart- — 
ments. In the same chapter I shall attempt to show the method — 
employed by the Chinese in describing plants and in investigating — 
Botany and Materia medica. 
Another chapter is devoted to the important question of identi- _ 
fying Chinese names of plants with scientific botanical names. 
Tshall record the attempts madé by European scholars to ascertain _ 
the botanical names of the plants described in Chinese books. : 
The first part will conclude with an alphabetical list of Chinese — 
works, and another of Chinese authors quoted in native botanical j 
treatises (the greater portion never before noticed in European j 
books on Chinese literature). The time of publication will of — 
course always be given, as this is a matter of primary importance — 
for our investigations, | 
In the second part I shall endeavour to present a history of © 
Chinese domestic, ornamental, medicinal, and other plants used — 
for economic purposes, as far as these have come to the knowledge 
of botanists. My information has been derived from native — 
authors as well as from European scientific works. 
CHAPTER I. 
CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A HISTORY OF THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE 
AMONG EASTERN ASIATIC NATIONS. 
1. Cuinese Lirerature on MATERIA MEDICA 
AND Botany. 
Before I proceed to enter upon the subject, it may be well to — 
recall a few points ia Chinese ancient history intimately con- — 
nected with our researches into the history of plants and Botany 
from native sources. — oa ek ee ae 
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