viii Preface to Second Edition 



E. J. Steer, Esq., have afforded me the use of photographs 

 which are acknowledged in the text. Miss Ethel M. Doidge, 

 to whose assistance as a student I was formerly indebted, and 

 whose admirable research along botanical lines has led to a 

 Doctorate in Science, has kindly looked over the proofs. The 

 subject-matter has also undergone the kindly but no less 

 searching glance of Dr. F. C. Kolbe, whose trenchant criticisms, 

 tempered with keen interest and rendered with genial humour, 

 have, for many years, been an incentive to me in my work. 



Whatever of living interest is scattered among the pages is 

 largely due to walks and talks with a keen and loving observer 

 ot Nature, J. J. van der Merwe, Esq., of Waterval, Wellington. 



My Publishers, Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co., have 

 extended unfailing assistance and courtesy. 



BERTHA STONEMAN. 



Huguenot College, 



Wellington, South Africa, 



April, 1915. 



