32 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



with its economic value, yet the information which 

 has reached, and on which has been built the Flora 

 of Tropical Africa, has contained important data 

 which should be useful "to future explorers and 

 residents in Africa interested in the natural produc- 

 tions and economic products of the country." It is, I 

 might venture to remark, a pity that the Economic 

 does not as a rule somewhat merge into the General 

 Botanic interest, and that the Science of Botany does 

 not condescend to admit more of the introduction of 

 economic notes explanatory and suggestive of parti- 

 culars on points of commercial interest. It may, and 

 very naturally, be advanced that either subject affords 

 a sufficient field for itself I will acknowledge the 

 justice of such an assertion. But who are more able 

 and can more readily and fully deal with the addition 

 suggested than the many gentlemen who make the 

 Science of Botany a lifelong study, and who have so 

 many veins of information, inaccessible to the many, 

 within their grasp and under their control? Much 

 useful work in an economic sense I must acknow- 

 ledge has been done, and I would ask not to be viewed 

 as a reflector or disparager, but rather as a suggester. 



