XXXIV THE HISTORY OF THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE 
of this statement, though the great superiority of his work 
is more evident in subsequent volumes. Previously no 
adequate analysis of the flowers and fruits were given, but 
he introduced full and often very elaborate dissections. 
In his first volume (the fifty-fourth of the whole work), 
he initiated the custom of dedicating the volumes to persons 
eminent in botany or horticulture. ‘Ihis volume is dedicated 
to Robert Barclay, Esq., of Bury Hill, Dorking ; and as the 
words addressed to him by the dedicator throw some further 
light on the history of the Magazine, they may be repro- 
duced here :— 
“Upwards of forty years ago the first series of the 
Botanical Magazine was begun, under your auspices, by its 
lamented editor, Mr. William Curtis. At the expiration of 
so long a period it is with no ordinary satisfaction that I am 
enabled to inscribe your name at the head of the present 
series of the work, suggested by your zeal for the encourage- 
ment of Science, and renewed under your enlightened 
patronage.” 
In addition to portraits of plants cultivated in this 
country, Hooker, through his widespread connections, was 
able to give figures of important economic and other 
interesting plants, such as the Butter-nut, double Cocoa- 
nut, Cochineal Fig, Clove, and Nutmeg, in the volume in 
question. These were figured from drawings supplied by 
Charles Telfair, of the Mauritius Botanic Garden, and the 
Rev. R. Guilding, of St. Vincent. Among Orchids in this 
volume are Zygopetalum Mackaii (pl. 2748), and Oncidium 
pulchellum! (pl. 2773), both described here for the first 
time. In 18383, the first volume of a new edition of the 
Magazine was issued “with amended characters of the 
species, the whole arranged according to the Natural 
orders,” by W. J. Hooker. “To which is added the most 
approved method of culture,” by Samuel Curtis, proprietor. 
This volume, the only one that appeared, contains 119 plates, 
representing plants belonging to the orders Ranunculacex 
to the Sarraceniacez. 
_Of special interest in the fifty-fifth volume are Cycas 
circinalis, the Baobab, and the Bread-fruit tree, with the 
history of its introduction into the British West Indies. In 
the same volume (pl. 2851) is the figure of Cattleya 
_* The first Oncidium in the Magazine is O. bifolium (pl. 1491), culti- 
tivated by Loddiges in 1812. “This was hung up in the cabin of the 
ship without earth, and continued to flower great part of the voyage 
home,” thereby teaching gardeners a lesson. 
