NOTICE. 



This twentieth volume concludes the "second series'* of the 

 Journal of Botany, and, I regret to add, also my responsible 

 connection with the periodical. 



It is no secret that the Journal has never been a success 

 financially. But whilst living in London I felt that any pecu- 

 niary loss was fairly made up to me in other ways — valued 

 acquaintances and correspondents, a certain inflnence, the flow 

 of new books and papers, &c. Since my residence in Ceylon, 

 however, I have had none of these compensations, whilst the 

 expenses of the Journal have been heavier and the subscribers no 

 more numerous. Under these circumstances I am reluctantly 

 compelled to decline to risk any further loss, 



After so long and intimate a connection with it, I need scarcely 

 say with how much regret I should see the complete cessation of 

 this Journal. For twenty years it has supplied a real want, which 

 will be felt again as soon as it ceases. Any new arrangements 

 that can be made for the continuation of this, or the foundation 

 of some similar (and improved), periodical repertory of Botany, 

 will have my hearty support, and I hope that of all other English 

 botanists. 



HENRY TRIMEN. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, 



Peradenia, Ceylon. 



EDITORIAL. 



From the year 1830, when Sir W. J. Hooker began his series 

 of botanical Journals, until the present time. Botany has been 

 represented in England by at least one magazine devoted ex- 

 clusively to that branch of natural science, and unconnected with 

 any Society. Sir William Hooker's series finally ended in 1857, 

 having thus extended, at somewhat irregular intervals, over a 



