iii i a a 
31 
raise theoretical tae of the highest interest. The various 
Delimitation Commissions which followed the partition of the 
continent each vielded botanical results of more or less value. 
And the addition of new territories to the Colonies on the West 
sat stimulated the desire of their Governments for an investiga- 
tion of their vegetable products. 
The sige was that an immense mass of material poured in 
Kew, and, though individual collections were worked 0 
series of es ak s, a general demand sprang up in toh 
countries, as well as at home, for a co ea work w oon 
would sum u thes: kn owledge which had been acquired, with 
no little ae of labour and even of life, of the ciation 
of Tropical Afri 
he desire svete found expression in the following 
er :— 
FOREIGN OFFICE TO KEW. 
Foreign Office 
March 21st, 1891. 
am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to state to you 
that his attention has been called to the fact that three volumes 
only of the Flora of Tropical Africa have as yet been ope. 
and that the want of a complete handbook describing know 
plants impedes their study by Her Majesty’s Officers in the 
different parts of Africa which are now bela opened up to 
Civilisation 
A knowledge of African botany is of great ake aap value, as 
was proved by the discovery of Sir John kir k, whilst employed 
as Her Majesty’s Agent at Zanzibar, of a plant previously un- 
known, which now supplies annually £200,000 worth * ig 
rubber to the Zanzibar market. So, too, on the West 
Africa, the trade consists almost entirely of vegetable crodudts 
some of which have only recently a brought to lig 
ord Salisbury is of opinion proper knowledge of the 
of the territories over which this country has recently acquired an 
influence and he would therefore suggest that — "completion of 
the work in question should be carried out yee 
(Sed.)” T. 'V. LISTER. 
The Director, 
Kew Gardens. 
In replying to this letter [ pointed out that my scientific bw 
Was so 0 ied with routine work that it was impossible to 
i lora as a matter of official duty. 
treat the completion of the Flora Si yoqe le 
voluntary celnbene as I could ay, to assist Her can ie 5 
Government in getting the work complete 
agreed that a commencement should be 
the inconvenience of anticipation, pro 
tions of new African plants received at Kew were drawn up by 
