To SIR JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER, 



M.D., K.C.S.I., C.B., F.R.S., F.L.S., ETC., ETC. 



DEAR SIR JOSEPH, 



As a mark of my appreciation of the kind help 

 and encouragement you gave me, when during the last 

 few years of your Directorate at the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens I acted as the Kew correspondent for 

 Dominica, permit me to dedicate the London edition of 

 my Text Book of Tropical Agriculture to you. 



Had you not, on the death of our mutual friend, Dr. 

 Imray, in 1880, urged me to endeavour to supply his 

 place, or what may be described as an honorary Kew 

 official on colonial service, I should probably not have 

 directed any attention to economic botany. The most 

 kind letter you then wrote to me has influenced me up to 

 now ; and, if there be anything useful in the following 

 pages, the credit is due in a great measure to you. 



In dedicating, then, this book to you, I am afforded 

 the sincere pleasure of showing you that, in the quiet of 

 your retirement, the influence of your work as the 

 Director of Kew lives on and bears fruit even in this far- 

 away field. 



Believe me, always, 



Yours faithfully and most sincerely, 



H. A. ALFORD NICHOLLS. 



ST. AUGMENT, DOMINICA. 

 30 May, 1892. 



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