INTRODUCTION. Will 



Plautus assigned the custody of gardens to 

 Venus ; and Pliny observes that the labours 

 of the garden formed one of the occupations 

 of females in his time ; and that it was a com- 

 mon observation in those days, when a gar- 

 den was out of order, and not well kept, that 

 the mistress was a bad housewife. Horti- 

 cultural pursuits were deemed so honourable 

 amongst the Romans, that many of their dis- 

 tinguished families derived their surnames 

 from some species of fruit or vegetable which 

 they were celebrated for cultivating. In mo- 

 dern days we have reversed this order, and 

 bestowed the surnames of our eminent bota- 

 nists, or persons who have zealously occu- 

 pied themselves in the introduction and cul- 

 tivation of new plants, on the plants them- 

 selves. Thus, with the unanimous consent 

 of all Europe, the Banksia, a genus of plants 

 procured from New Holland, will carry down 

 the name of Banks to the end of time ; as 

 Aitonia will that of the worthy author of the 

 Hortus Kewensis. Indeed, were we to enu- 

 merate all the plants which have been so 

 named in gratitude, or through respect to 



