147 
THE PROGRESS OF BOTANY IN JAPAN.* 
By F. V. Dicxiss, M.B., B.Sc., F.L.S. 
Axtnoven earlier works of a botanical character existed, 
botanical science in the far East began with the publication of the 
‘Honzo Komoku’ (Pentsao Kang-mu, or General View of the 
Vegetable Kingdom), by Lishih Chin, between 1578 and 1619, of 
which many editions have appeared both in China and in Japan. 
Although this work, which is rudely illustrated and consists of forty- 
ve volumes,—the volumes of Chinese and Japanese works are more 
properly livraisons,—bears the above title, a not inconsiderable 
of it is devot i 
portion 
of the root, the size, colour and firmness of which were supposed 
to be indications of the medical qualities of the plant. 
e figures, however, were much more accurate than the 
the most notable are the ‘Yamato Honzo’ or J apanese Flora, 
and the ‘Kwa-i’ or Collection of Flowering Plants, in eight 
volumes, four devoted to herbs and four to shrubs and trees. The 
latter work is admirably illustrated; the details of the leaves, for 
instance, are most accurately rendered. 
the early part of the 19th century appeared the ‘ Honzo 
komoku keimo’ (Introduction to the System of Botany), and ‘Honzé 
of the former that Its Keisuke studied the part of the science of 
by Thunberg according to the European system, published by Ito 
without doubt be 
Keisuke in 1828. To Ito Keisuke then, may, with 
ascribed the honour of haying been the first of his countrymen to 
* Communicated to the Linnean Society, Dec. 16th, 1886. 
