VI EDITORS PREFACE. 



very ample botanical library, especially of foreign authors. 

 The characters, however, observed by others were, for his own 

 descriptions, merely suggestive ; — none being recorded but 

 such as, after careful examination, he himself found to exist in 

 nature. 



The results of these careful investigations were the, most 

 accurate and elaborate descriptions which can well be ima- 

 gined ; but such were the time and labour bestowed on each 

 species, — as much as many authors would give to a genus 

 or family, — that this circumstance very materially retarded the 

 progress of the work. Unfortunately, also, when the Isle of 

 Wight had been very thoroughly investigated as regards sta- 

 tions, and the work of describing was proceeding, the author 

 enlarged his plan, and determined to comprise the whole 

 county of Hampshire within the scope of his Flora. This 

 certainly would greatly have added to the value of the work, 

 had he been spared to complete it ; but, such not having been 

 permitted, it is impossible not to regret the interruption which 

 the search for localities in this new field occasioned to the 

 description of species. Another cause of interruption to the 

 present work must also here be mentioned. Dr. Bromfield 

 had an intense love of travel, and this desire ever and anon 

 prevailed, and occasioned a suspension of the Island Flora. 

 Extensive tours through the Islands of the West Indies, and 

 through Canada and the States of North America, although 

 they contributed most valuable information to the pages of the 

 ' London Journal of Botany,' very much impeded the progress 

 of the present work. Finally, in 1850, Dr. Bromfield started 

 on an excursion to Egypt, Nubia and Abyssinia; after which 

 he was tempted to prolong his tour into Palestine and Syria, 

 where, alas ! he was cut off by fever at Damascus. 



Under these melancholy circumstances the manuscript of 

 the rinfinished Flora was committed to the Editors by Dr. 

 Bromfield's nearest surviving relative ; and here, perhaps, the 

 manner in which they have endeavoured to do their dutj', both 

 to her, to their deceased lamented friend, and to the public, 

 requires a few words of explanation. 



It soon became evident, notwithstanding the great amount 

 of labour and research bestowed by the author, that the work 

 yet remained in a very fragmentary form. As a Catalogu.e, 



