viii THE HISTORY OF THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE 
Fitch seemed fatal to the existence even of the Magazine. 
There were, it is true, other capable draughtsmen who 
worked for the horticultural press, but they were, with few 
exceptions, wholly unacquainted with the analytical part, 
and botanists had so long relied on Fitch that there was 
nobody ready to take his place. I donot forget his nephew, 
J. N. Fitch, Worthington Smith, and others ; but they were 
all occupied in their respective lines, and living ata distance 
from Kew. It will be known to many persons that the 
toyal Gardens, Kew, furnish directly, or through the con- 
tributions of nurserymen and other horticulturists, the 
subjects for the Magazine, and it often happens that a plant 
must be drawn without delay or it is lost for that season. 
Sometimes, too, only a single plant exists, or it is of a very 
delicate constitution, and great risk would attend its con- 
veyance to a distance; hence the importance of the artist 
living on the spot, and being ready at any moment to take 
in hand whatever may be required. 
On looking through the 104th volume of the Magazine, | see 
that no fewer than seven different artists besides W. H. Fitch 
contributed drawings which were lithographed by J. N. 
Fitch ; but most of the drawings are by Mrs. (now Lady) 
Thiselton-Dyer (H. T.-D.), a daughter of Sir Joseph Hooker ; 
and although one would not think of making comparisons, it 
may be said that they are highly creditable productions for 
an amateur suddenly called upon to follow a master hand. 
Three of the drawings are by M. S. (Miss Matilda Smith), a 
young lady whom Sir Joseph Hooker had taken under his 
personal instruction. Of the next volume, which is dedicated 
to Dr. G. King, Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic 
Garden, Mrs. Dyer is also the principal artist, and Miss 
Smith and various other persons also contributed—A. B. 
(Mrs, Barnard, a sister of the late Mrs. J. D. Hooker, and 
daughter of the late Professor Henslow), the greater part of 
the remainder. Succeeding volumes are almost exclusively 
the work of the ladies named, in varying proportions; but 
chiefly of Miss Smith, who is now practically sole artist of the 
Magazine, having contributed all the drawings for the current 
volume; and J. N. Fitch, whose work in other publications 
is familiar to most lovers of flowers, is still lithographer. I 
have been so much associated with Miss Smith in her draw- 
ing for other publications that sympathy might to some 
extent bias my judgment; but the fact that she has attained 
her present position speaks for itself. Her latest drawings 
in the Magazine augur well for the future, and must be a 
source of satisfaction to Sir Joseph Hooker. 
