THE AFRICAN CYCADS 63 



well represented. The vertical range of this garden, 

 nearly 3,000 feet, gives it a great advantage over any 

 of the other great gardens of the world. 



While the garden existed only in Professor Pearson's 

 mind when I was at Cape Town, the park contained a 

 good collection of cycads, so that I was able to get some 

 final photographs, notes, and material before starting 

 for Chicago. 



During these trips to Mexico, Cuba, Australia, and 

 Africa all the nine genera of cycads, with about thirty 

 of the species, were studied in the field, notes and 

 photographs were secured, material was carefully 

 selected for later microscopic study, arrangements were 

 made with people in cycad locaHties to send collections 

 at suitable intervals, and living plants were sent to 

 Chicago for that prolonged and critical observation 

 which is impossible when time is limited. 



The following chapters will describe the life-history 

 of the cycad, the description being based upon field 

 notes and a laboratory study of the abundant material. 



