\i\ PREFACE. 



plants, I propose issuing in ;i separate volume at an early date, 

 \\ith a large fund of statistical and general information. 



Among those gentlemen to whom I acknowledge myself 

 most indebted for valuable suggestions or important informa- 

 tion, are my friends Sir R. H. Schomburgk, British Consul at 

 St. Domingo, and Mr. R. Montgomery Martin, the well- 

 known Statist and Colonial Historian ; Mr. R. D. Wodifield, 

 Deputy Inspector of Imports at the port of London ; Mr. 

 Leonard Wray, of Natal, author of " The Practical Sugar 

 Planter;" Dr. W. Hamilton, of Plymouth, a talented and frc- 

 quent contributor to the scientific periodicals of the day ; Mr. 

 T. C. Archer, of Liverpool, author of " Economic Botany ;" 

 Mr. Greene, of the firm of Blyth, Brothers, and Greene; Mr. J. 

 S. Christopher, author of several works on the Cape Colony, 

 and Natal ; Mr. B. H. Strousberg, editor of " The Merchant's 

 Magazine," and Mr. G. W. Johnson, the eminent agricul- 

 tural writer, author of various elaborate " Essays on the 

 Agriculture of Hindostan," which were written for my 

 " Colonial Magazine." 



P. L. SIMMONDS. 



6, BABGE YARD, BUCKLERSBUUY, 

 December, 1853. 



