VI 



PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



I have here Lo acknowledge my obligations to Mr. Don, for the pains he lias taken in forming 

 the deseripLlons of Lhe new species, and the accurate manner in which the whole has been executed, 

 l^erhaps it will be necessary here to notice several Pines which appear to me to merit being considered as 

 distinct species; but of which I have not yet been able lo obtain sufficient materials to enable me to give 

 descriptions of them. The first is a native of China, from whence I have frequently received the cones : from 

 these, and a drawing in tlic possession of the Horticultural Society, it appears to be a very distinct species, and 

 may, therefore, be called Pinus Sinensis. Several plants of this species have lately been raised in this country, 

 so that we shall soon become better actpiaintcd with its characters. Having lately seen drawings done by 

 Japanese artists of the Pinus Abies and Lariac, noticed liy Thunbcrg in the Plora Japonica, I am now fully 

 satisfied of their being perfectly distinct from the European species, with which Thunbcrg has confounded 

 them, as I had at first suspected. For the former I would suggest the name of Pinus Thunhergii ; and for 

 the latter, noticed liy Kacmpfer, that of Pimis Ikcmpferi. Thuuberg's Pinus Strobus is evidently the same 

 with my Pinus excclsa. As to his Pinus Cemhra and sylvestris, I can say nothing; but I have little doubt 



w 



that they will prove distinct species. I possess a single plant of a species jTo/m ternis. It comes near to Pi 

 longifolia, and is said to be from Timor. It has hitherto been kept in the conservatory, where it has attained 

 the height of sixteen feet, bearing male catkins annually. 



mus 



It gives me infinite satisfaction to have an opportunity of acknowledging the many obligations I am under 

 to the Honourable the Court of Directors of the East India Companv, to whom botanical science is so much 

 iadebted, for the great zeal and liberality they have shown in making known the vegetable treasures of their 

 extended Asiatic possessions, by appointing collectors in various parts of India, and by the estahlishment of 

 one of the most magnificent Botanic Gardens in the world, at Calcutta, whicli has furnished to the Gardens 

 of this country their cliief ornaments. 



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I have also to acknowledge my obligations to that distinguished oriental scholar, Ciiaules Wilkins, Esq. 



who has at all limes afforded me free access to the rich collections contained in the Museum of the India 

 House. 



The Appendix will |jc found to contain plates and descriptions of several very remarkable plants, which 

 although not necessarily connected with the work, will yet, I hope, not be considered as out of place. These 

 consist of the Quercus grandifhlia from Nepal, the Madura aurantiaca, or Osage orange, the Ilecc Paraguensis, 

 tea-tree of Paraguay, Ilex Gongonha, or tea-tree of Brazil, Ilex Martiniana ; and, lastly, plates of the 

 two magnificent species of Nepenthes, which were discovered in Singapore by my highly valued and 

 lamented friend, the late Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. All these it is hoped will add much to the interest of 

 the work. 



At the sohcitation of several friends, I have been induced to give, at the end of the work, an account of 

 the various collections contained in my Herbarium. The task of drawing up this account has also fallen lo 

 Mr. Don, who I trust will be found to have executed it in a very satisfactory manner. 



London, 1st .January, 1828. 



