en 
23 
labour, Mr. Thwaites alien gee with these materials, his 
* Enumeratio,” which contains the names, with reference to 
dthorieica, of all Singhalese platite, their localities, synonymy, 
native names and uses, notes where required, and des scriptions of 
all little known or new genera and species. e is sent as 
prepared to Kew, and is printed and Peplished in London. The 
first number appeared in 1858, and the fourth, concluding the 
Dicotyledons, is now in the press; these are extremely carefully 
and well done, especially considering that the author works so far 
from the Libraries and Herbaria of Europe. It is to be hoped 
that it will be speedily followed by a full Flora of Ceylon, on the 
plan of that of the Cape of Goo rd Hope, under the authority of the 
Home or Colonial Government. 
This hope was never realized at Dr. Thwaites’ hands. But his 
successor commenced a Handbook to the Ceylon Flora with an 
Atlas of Plates. The first volume published, ‘ under the authority 
6 the Government of Ceylon,’ appeared in 1893. Dr. Trimen’s 
ntimely death, in 1896, left it unfinished. It was finally com- 
cre in 1900, by Sir Joseph Hooker. 
KEW TO COLONTAL OFFICE. 
Royal Botanic Gorden, Kew, 
h 8th, 1897. 
SIR 
I have the honour to acknowledge the rites of fps letter 
of March 6th (4560/97) porpocting the completion o 
to the Flora of Ceylon, left unfinished by the late Dr. Prinses: Of 
this work three volumes have been published, It appears to me 
that two additional volumes “will be necessary to bring it to a 
conclusion. This is one more than van! ee els aac oie 
uf iy . 
n the 
He proposed to meet the difficulty by Saudohing $e attempt to 
deal with the Monocotyledons. But = this group includes the 
grasses, the limitation would detract very much from the value of 
the ‘ralevtaitng and would still leave it x pene ete. 
2. For the last thirty years the publication of a Flora in a 
popular form has earnestly been discussed by residents in the 
Colony. The accomplishment of the b book was an object which 
Dr. Trimen had definitely in view when he accepted the wnt 
originally cn aaa 
3. There can be no y aeaks that the result met with universal 
approval. The Ceylon iescrieatl for June 30, °96, in noticing 
Dr. Trimen’s sekieeaneit observ “Tt " impossible to over 
estimate the value of pit ‘work for practical, educational, and 
scientific purposes in the colony.” 
4, Ido a otnink that the aca Director could be expected to 
take up Dr. Trimen’s work till he has acquired some familiarity 
