190 
Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ke 
memorandum, dated Feb. 1st, 1878, described Hongkong as “ the 
key to the botanical position as regards the Chinese Empire,” and 
during the next few years the building up of the herbarium, now 
accommodated in more adequate quarters, was pushed forward with 
energy. e co-operation of Sampson, who still lived in Canton, 
and of other collectors was secured. 
In 1882 the appointment of an English assistant enabled Ford to 
leave Hongkong on the first of a series of expeditions into the 
interior of China to investigate the flora and the vegetable economic 
products, which were up to that time practically unknown to the 
outside world, except as articles of commerce. This journey was 
taken at the instance of Sir Joseph Hooker to endeavour to trace 
the botanical origin of Cassia Lignea, one of the most important 
products of South China. Ford proceeded up the West River to 
the Kwangtung Cassia districts, and completed a very thorough 
piece of work to the satisfaction of the Government, who printed 
and circulated an account of the expedition and its economic results. 
The collection of wild plants made along the route was added to 
the herbarium. Another important contribution to our knowledge 
of Chinese commercial products was made about this time by Ford 
by the procuring from South Kwangtung and the successful cultiva- 
tion of Star Anise. In 1883, in company with Faber, he made a 
botanical exploration of the Lo Fou Shan, 50 miles from Canton, 
and returned with considerable living and dried collections, con- 
taining several plants new to science. 
Meanwhile the herbarium collection was being increased by the 
contributions of collectors from other parts of China, such as 
B. C. Henry from Hainan, Watters (and Ford) from Formosa, and 
Faber from Ningpo, while Ford and his assistant, Westland, made 
frequent short expeditions in the intervals of their more pressing 
work and discovered many new and interesting species in the 
neighbourhood of Hongkong. Among other things, Ford succeeded 
in determining the botanical origin of the important Fan Palm and 
of Chinese Ginger. In 1886, Chinese Botany suffered an irreparable 
loss by the death of Hance, and Ford not only fonnd himself deprived 
of his constant help and advice, but also of the sibility of con- 
sulting his excellent herbarium and library, which were before long 
sold and removed to England. 
