6* PREFACE. 
that of the Phenogams, and to introduce descriptions of them 
would therefore swell this volume to inconvenient proportions. 
The Introduction to Botany has been taken from that at- 
tached to Drs. Harvey and SonpEr’s ‘ Flora Capensis,’ with 
a few very slight additions or modifications. 
The Keys to the Natural Orders I have constructed to the 
best of my ability, and so arranged them as to harmonize as 
much as possible with the sequence of the Orders adopted by 
Dr. Harvey in the body of the work. Such being the case, 
I would add that it does not throughout express my own 
views of the affinities of the Orders as expressed by the Jus- 
SIEUAN system; it does so, however, to a very great extent, 
and this for two reasons: firstly, because Dr. Harvey pro- 
fessedly followed the ‘Genera Plantarum’ of Mr. Bentham 
and myself, so far as that work had proceeded, and for the 
remaining Orders (after Rubiacez) he, in the main, followed 
a manuscript with which I supplied him, giving a rough sketch 
of Mr. Benruam’s and my own ideas as to the sequence, 
etc., of the most important alliances or cohorts of D icoty- 
ledons, and of the Orders they contain. 
I have thought it proper to reprint with this edition so 
much of Dr. Harvey’s Introduction to the First Edition as 
explains his motives for undertaking the work, and other 
matters connected with the history of the Cape Botany that 
may prove interesting. IJ must refer the reader to his Pre- 
faces to the three volumes of the ‘ Flora Capensis’ for such 
further information upon the latter subject as brings our 
knowledge down to the period of his decease (1866). 
The number of South African flowering plants supposed to 
be contained in European Herbaria was, in 1888, estimated 
by Dr. Harvey at 7860, comprised in 937 genera; this was 
before the exploration of the Natal district. The number is 
estimated in the present edition at 8777 species, contained in 
1209 genera. 
