184 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



intention of Baron von Mueller to furnish such a volume, more 

 especially as after fifteen years' previous botanical researches in 

 Australia he was the collaborator of Mr. Bentham in the " Flora," 

 the first and as yet the only one for any of the great divisions of 

 the globe. A vast proportion of the plants thus rendered known 

 were from his own writings ; and moreover the illustrious author, 

 in the preface to the seventh volume, expressed a particular wish 

 that the Baron should continue this great work. Ever since the 

 last volume appeared, in 1879, the Government Botanist of 

 Victoria has zealously and perseveringly followed up his elucida- 

 tion of the Australian native vegetation with the final object 

 before mentioned. 



The issue of a supplementary volume has hitherto been deferred, 

 as new plants continued to be discovered, of which fact the pages 

 of the Victoria?^ Naturalist bear witness, thus showing that an 

 early supplement would soon have proved incomplete, and 

 further, as the novel species, gradually and connectedly added 

 through the " Fragmenta Fhytographise Australian" and other 

 publications, were all given in von Mueller's first and second 

 "Census of Australian Plants" up to 1889, a third being soon due, 

 so that with the utmost ease the gradually accumulated material 

 for an additional volume of the "Flora Austr. " could be utilized. 

 Indeed, these publications were all furnished as so many con- 

 tributions towards an additional volume. Hitherto, with a single 

 exception, no desire for a compact supplement was expressed, and 

 this is not surprising, as Queensland, Victoria, and South 

 Australia have all had their special " Floras" by local authors for 

 some years, and as one for New South Wales has just gone 

 through the press ; each "Flora" bringing the botanical knowledge 

 for its colony up to the time of publication. As few unexplored 

 parts of Australia now remain, to afford additional material for 

 novelties, the intention of Baron von Mueller, so long cherished, 

 will be early carried out. For this task his position is unique. He 

 has gained personal experience by long exploratory travels in 

 each of the Australian colonies, his researches in this part of the 

 world having commenced in 1847, after seven years' previous 

 home studies. Bentham's wish, previously alluded to, is expressed 

 in the following words : — " The additional species have moreover 

 been described by Baron von Mueller in his ' Fragmenta,' and 

 it is to be hoped that, in order to render these descriptions 

 readily accessible to those who have to make use of my ' Flora,' 

 he will consolidate them into a methodic synopsis, in conformity 

 with the system I have adopted. This would give him the 

 opportunity, to rearrange my genera with reformed characters 

 in those cases where his views have proved at variance with 

 mine." 



