x Introductory Remarks, 



originality, and this can best be preserved by additional notes appear- 

 ing in a distinct form or as an appendix to any posthumous edition. 

 The fact, that this work through successive editions and extensive 

 issues came into use over a large portion of the world, whether for 

 educational or rural or journalistic or touristic wants, has been most 

 gratifying to the writer ; but this brightness is dimmed by the cir- 

 cumstance, that the book has not unfrequently been used even in public 

 departments with perhaps unintentional evasion of all literary or any 

 other acknowledgment. Nor did frequently words of appreciation reach 

 the author from wherever rural successes were gained through even 

 practical exertions of his own, at all events the direct encouragement 

 expected for the benefit of the author's establishment was generally out 

 of proportion to the services hoped to be rendered. 



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 emigrants, so that the varied wideness of 

 cultural range in mild climates as yet so imperfectly understood 

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

 advantage of these southern colonies. Indeed the book, if kept at 

 hand for all days life, would instil information to domestic circles, 

 calling forth discussions conversationally, when opportunities arise, 

 as pleasant and impressive means for education even of the juveniles 

 in very practical subjects. The increased ease of communication, 

 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 unbiased 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 

 strives now to afford in well planned, thoughtfully directed and 

 generously supported special scientific establishments the needful aid, 



