viii Preface. 



The writer entertains a hope, that a copy of this plain volume may 

 find also a place in the libraries of any of our schools and mechanics' 

 institutes for occasional and perhaps frequent reference to its pages, 

 and that it may further become available on board of ships and other- 

 wise to travellers and immigrants, so that the varied wideness of 

 cultural range in mild climates as yet so imperfectly understood 

 may more fully and readily be recognized, particularly also for the 

 advantage of these southern colonies. The increased ease of com- 

 munication, which more latterly has arisen between nearly all parts 

 of the globe, places us here also now in a fairer position for independent 

 efforts, to suggest or promote introductions of new vegetable treasures 

 from unexplored regions, or to submit neglected plants of promising 

 value to unbiassed original tests. It may merely be instanced, that 

 after the lapse of more than three centuries since the conquest of 

 Mexico, only the most scanty information is extant on the timber of 

 that empire, even in reference to its numerous kinds of splendid oaks, 

 and that of several thousand species of tropical grasses not many 

 dozen have been tried as yet with rural or chemical exactitude for 

 pasture-purposes, not to speak of a multitude of prominently utili- 

 tarian trees, shrubs and herbs, restricted to temperate mountain- 

 regions within the tropics, but never yet carried to the lowlands of 

 higher latitudes. For inquiries of such kind every civilised State 

 should strive to afford in well planned, thoughtfully directed and 

 generously supported special scientific establishments the needful aid. 

 not merely for adding to the prosperity, comfort and enjoyment of 

 the present generation, but also with an anticipation of earning the 

 gratitude of posterity ; and this ought to be done with a sensitive 

 jealousy, to maintain also thereby the fair fame of any country for 

 scientific dignity and industrial development. Friendly consideration 

 will recognise the fact, that a desire, to arouse more and more such a 

 spirit of emulation, has much inspired the writer to offer these pages, 

 he trusting, that enlightened statesmanship far and wide will foster 

 the aims, which he has had in view, through liberal, energetic and 

 circumspect support. 



Melbourne, April, 1891. 



