PREFACE. 



IN presenting this volume of " Natal Plants " it is, perhaps, necessary to explain 

 how it is that the third volume has been completed while the second volume 

 (which contains figures and descriptions of grasses only) is still unfinished. When 

 the first volume was in course of preparation two artists were at work at the 

 lithographs, Mr. W. J. HATGARTH and Miss LAUTH, and it was my intention that 

 Miss LMITH should keep to the grasses and Mr. HAYGARTH the miscellaneous plants, 

 but, after Mr. HAYGARTH had completed 10 drawings, family reasons and press of 

 business compelled him to relinquish the work. Miss LAUTH then, after the first 

 half of the second volume had been completed, took up Vol. 3, and the greater 

 part of the drawings have been done by her. When the volume was nearly 

 completed I obtained the services of another assistant, Miss FRANKS, and it will be 

 seen that, with some little assistance from Miss LAOTH, she has made 12 of the 

 drawings. I think it will be admitted that the plates in this volume are superior 

 as a rule to those in the first volume, and it is hoped that this improvement may 

 continue. My thanks are due to all the artists, and especially to Miss LAUTH, who 

 has made the greater part of the drawings in this volume, and who is now engaged 

 in completing the second volume. 



As to the descriptions, it will be noticed that they frequently contain matter 

 which a botanist would perhaps consider to be unnecessary, such for instance as 

 prominent Ordinal characters, but it should be remembered that this book is not 

 intended for botanists only, but also for persons in the Colony who have but a 

 small acquaintance with the science, and it is hoped that this publication will 

 stimulate some at any rate of them to take a greater interest in it, so that we may 

 no longer lie under the reproach that so few persons in the Colony know botani- 

 cally one plant from another, and also that the number of collectors and observers 

 may be speedily much increased. 



My thanks are due to the Government who so generously contribute to its 

 publication, and also to the Committee of the Durban Botanic Society, under 

 whose auspices it is published, and without whose assistance and encouragement 

 the work could scarcely be carried on. 



I am also much indebted to the Director of Kew Gardens and his assistants 

 in the Herbarium, who have at various times during the last 20 years identified 

 for me a large number of specimens, and who are engaged in completing the 

 Flora Capensis, a work which has been and is of the greatest service, not only to 

 me, but to all workers in South African botany. 



J. MEDLEY WOOD. 



