vi : PREFACE. 
do a little as well as I could, than sit down and lament that that 
little was indeed so small, I began collecting the drawings for the 
present work, in the hope that I might lay a pebble towards founding 
the great illustrated Frora or Evrope, which I long to see 
commenced in earnest, and with the intention of offering to the 
lover of Nature some account of a few of the rarities and beauties 
by which I was every day encompassed. I had great advantages 
before me, such indeed as can rarely, I think, present themselves 
to many. In the first place, my father was indefatigable in pro- 
curing subjects for my pencil, his knowledge of plants and great 
powers of endurance making him as able a collector as ever searched 
jungle or climbed Alp. Besides his all-important help, I was most 
deeply indebted to M. Honoré Ardoino, who, though himself engaged 
upon a Flora of the Department, spared me both time, and specimens 
from his valuable herbarium, at once becoming one of the readiest 
promoters of my scheme. I take the present opportunity of thanking 
him most warmly for his kindness and liberality. With the aid of a 
catalogue of the plants of the neighbourhood, published by him in 
1862, it was easy for me to work up the descriptions in the “ Flore 
de France,” of Grenier and Godron, and a few other books, of the 
greater number of Mentonese plants. I hope it will not be long 
before M. Ardoino will give to the world his “ Flore du Département 
des Alpes Maritimes,” which will include Cannes, Nice, and Men- 
tone. The student of Botany will then have no difficulty in naming 
most of the plants likely to be discovered in this last corner of South 
Eastern France. 
The descriptions of the plants figured in the present work are, of 
course, for the most part compiled from a variety of authors, every 
part being, however, checked by comparison with the actual plant. 
I have sometimes been obliged to make more guarded statements and 
occasionally to differ altogether from my authorities. In all cases my 
