PKEFACE OF THE TRANSLATOE. 



At tlie time when Dr. Wittstein's " Anleitung zur chemischen 

 Analyse von Pflanzentheilen auf ihre organischen Bestandtheile" 

 made its appearance, I was honoured by its distinguished author, 

 whose friendshipl have enjoyed for many years, by bringing this im- 

 portant work under my notice. Recognising its value in my own 

 laboratory, I became eager to render it accessible also to chemical 

 workers in the great British Empii-e, as well as in the North 

 American States, through an English version. The consent for a 

 translation was gi-anted with equal liberality and disinterestedness 

 both by the author and Mr. C. H. Beck, of Noerdlii^gen, the pub- 

 lisher of the work. Circumstances, over which I could exercise no 

 control, and such as not readily occur except in the earlier phases 

 of a young colony, have retarded, to my deep regret, for a series 

 of years the issue of this translation, though the manuscripts were 

 mostly prepared long ago; thus I redeem but late the obligation 

 so far devolving on me, and this to the disadvantage of the author. 

 I feel great pleasure in acknowledging the co-operation of Mr. L. 

 RuMMEL, who for some years conducted many phyto-chemic and 

 technic operations in my laboratory, in aiding me throughout in 

 the work of translation, and also in its revision, while it was pass- 

 ing through the press. Thus I effected a large saving of my time, 

 heavily taxed already by multifarious professional, departmental 

 and special literary duties, and often even sacrificed in defending the 

 dignity of a scientific position, or sustaining my means for 

 further progressive researches. These cii-cum stances may also 

 plead excuse, should I not have realised the expectations, raised in 



