INTRODUCTION. 17 



in 1842, and the introduction of Gutta-percha in the 

 following year, practically re-created an extensive 

 branch of our manufactures ; whilst the spread of 

 education and the removal of duties, causing an 

 enormously expanded demand for paper, have pro- 

 duced a corresponding increase in the import of 

 both old and new materials for its preparation, chief 

 among the latter being Alfa (commonly called 

 Esparto) Grass and wood-pulp. Fibrous substances 

 and tanning materials have also been introduced in 

 great variety ; and though no remedy of vegetable 

 origin belonging, like quinine, to the highest grade 

 of importance has been discovered, many drugs of 

 minor value have been brought into use. 



The advance, however, of those of our industries 

 that depend upon vegetable products has not been 

 the result of the introduction of new materials alone. 

 The rapid strides of chemistry, the employment of 

 steam as a motive-power, the great general improve- 

 ment in machine-construction and our increased bo- 

 tanical knowledge of the sources of our economic 

 products, especially of materia medica, leading to 

 their cultivation in new lands, have had even greater 

 influence. The introduction of the Tea, Chinchona 

 and Caoutchouc-yielding plants into various parts of 

 India has had, or is destined to have, an influence 

 upon British trade at least equal to that of any single 

 fresh importation into our own country. 



' Vegetable products, 5 writes Professor Archer, in 

 1853,* 'constitute nine ? twelfths of the whole com- 

 merce in raw produce which employs the vast 

 * ' Popular Economic Botany/ p. vi. 



2 



