34 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX 



With regard to the classification of the palms we shall follow the 

 arrangement laid down by Professor Drude in the '' Natiirliche 

 Pflanzenfamilien " ; in minor points only we found it convenient to 

 introduce a few changes. We have chosen Professor Drude' s 

 system of classification in preference to the one adopted in Sir J. 

 Hooker's " Flora of British India " for entirely practical reasons. 

 As we include in our description a great number of exotic species, 

 the plan given by Professor Drude seemed to simplify matters 

 considerably. In order to give the series not only scientific interest 

 but also practical value, we shall add to the description of the 

 species an account of their economic uses and, besides, a few notes 

 on their cultivation. We cannot lay claim to the practical ex- 

 perience of a gardener and have, therefore, to rely in this matter on 

 the remarks scattered in various books on gardening. As many of 

 the palms described below have been introduced into European 

 Conservatories, we hope that some hints on palm-growing in Europe 

 will be welcome. 



In order to avoid, on the one hand, too frequent references to 

 authorities in the test, and on the other to indicate the books where 

 those desirous of further information may easily find it, we shall give 

 a list of the literature on palms at the end of the introductory chapter. 

 Later on all the references to botanical authors will be given in their 

 usual abbreviated form. In the interest of those who are not fami- 

 liar with the ways of botanists, we shall add a list of the authors with 

 the abbreviations commonly used in botanical works. 



We are fully aware of many imperfections regarding the treatment 

 of our subject. Those who have ever made, or tried to make, a special 

 study of palms will realise the many difficulties that lie in the way of 

 such an undertaking. We shall always be very thankful for any 

 suggestions or corrections. 



Our sincere thanks are due to Captain Gage, the Director of the 

 Botanical Survey of India, and Mr. H. F. MacMillan, the Curator of 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, who have supplied us with 

 a considerable number of photographs which otherwise we should not 

 have been able to secure. To Mr. MacMillan we are, moreover, 

 indebted for his valuable suggestions. We owe another set of 

 photographs to the kindness of Mr. Phipson, the former Honorary 

 Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, to the Rev. Max 



