PREFACE. vil 



selected for Chirichona-plantations, and an account 

 of the progress of the experimental cultivation of 

 those inestimable trees, from the arrival of the plants 

 and seeds, early in 1861, to the latest dates. 



In conducting the operations connected with the 

 collection of Chinchona-plants and seeds in South 

 America, I obtained the services of Mr. Spruce, Mr. 

 Pritchett, Mr. Cross, and Mr. Weir ; and it affords 

 me great pleasure to have this opportunity of pub- 

 licly recording their perseverance in facing many 

 dangers and hardships, and in doing the work that 

 was allotted to them so ably, and with such, complete 

 success. 



To Mr; Eichard Spruce, an eminent botanist who 

 has for eight years been engaged in exploring the 

 basin of the Amazons, from Para to the peaks of the 

 Quitenian Andes, and from the falls of the Orinoco 

 to the head-waters of the Huallaga, the largest share 

 of credit, so far as the South American portion of 

 the enterprise is concerned, undoubtedly belongs. 

 I have endeavoured to do justice to his untiring 

 energy and zeal, and to the important service which 

 he has rendered to India. 



But the collection of plants and seeds in South 

 America, and their conveyance to the shores of India, 

 would have been of little use if they had not been 

 delivered into competent hands on arriving at their 



