TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



In bringing this second volume of Professor Baillon's Histoire 

 des Plantes before the English reader, I think it well to say a word 

 on what I have held to be the duty of the translator, and how 

 I have attempted to fulfil it. The former may be very shortly sum- 

 marized : to present the book as the Author might have done had he 

 written in English. This I have tried to carry out by striving in 

 all cases to master the sense accurately in the first instance ; in the 

 few cases where the text was ambiguous or obscure I have consulted 

 other authorities. Where the sense of an English writer is given I 

 have given or condensed the original, following the plan of the 

 French text. Many of the references have been collated and, where 

 necessary, corrected ; while I have added a number referring to 

 Vol. II. of Professor Oliver's Flora of Tropical Africa, and Vol. V. 

 of Mr. Bentham's Flora Australiensis, which have been published 

 since the issue of the French edition. 



In this volume I have again to acknowledge the aid of my brother 

 Numa. He translated the " genera" of Connaracea, Leguminosa (up 

 to No. 293 of Papilionacece), Elaagnacea, Myristicacea, and the 

 first few of Proteacem and Lauraceee. To free me partially for a 

 heavy press of academic work, he, with rare kindness, undertook 

 this task, which was stopped by his fatal illness. I cannot refrain 



