THE NEW ‘INDEX OF PLANT-NAMES.’ 161 
taking, and the responsibilities attached to its control, I take the 
earliest opportunity of communicating the following statement, 
supplied to me by the courtesy of Sir Joseph Hooker, through 
whom the work was planned, and who is responsible for the result. 
** Shortly before his death, Mr. Charles Darwin ee Sir 
Joseph Hooker that it was his intention to devot e @ con- 
Ag 
species of plants know to botanists, together with their 
native countries. Steudel’s ‘Nomenclator’ is the only existing 
work of this 7 and, arg igh now nearly half a century 
old, Mr. Darwin had found it of great aid in his own 
researches. It had been Eiananseets to every botanical 
institution, whether as a list of ser known flowering plants, 
ny ¥ 
ed upon the authorities at Kew, in the hope that bute 
for its accomplishment might be indeed from the Govern- 
ment or from other sources 
“The object of his munificence being settled, Mr. Darwin 
settled in outline, it ach to find a person able and 
enlarged index, and to this end communications were made 
ee inently qualified for the task. appily, Mr. Jackson 
: Pe his willingness. to undertake it, provided the 
promised funds were sufficient, and he was thereupon 
requested to draw up an estima te of the probable time and 
funds required for the mon of the e work. Chis he = 
