CONTENTS OF INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



I. Objuct, Scope, and DESiau op the Floea Indica . . 2 



fonteiils of the proposed Work . ... .2 



Its object relatively to the reqiiii-ements of Economic Botany . 3 



Botany too comprehensive a subject to be worked out by one indivi- 

 dual, both as an abstract science and in an economic point of view 

 — Necessity for the partial use of Latin — Desirability of a popular 

 work succeeding, not preceding, a scientific — Dr. Eoyle's labours 1. 



Impossibility of making satisfaotoi-y progress in Economic Botany of 

 India for want of a scientific Mora . . . .5 



Reasons for our undertaking the Flora Indica, our advantages, our 

 materials, coUectious, access to herbaria and libraries . 6 



British Association recommends the undertaking — Its appUcation to 

 the Honourable East India Company for assistance — An unfavour- 

 able ansvfer received — Difficulties of the task thus increased . 7 



Area included by the Flora Indica . . . 8 



II. GeNEEAL CONSIDEKATIONS CONKECTED WITH THE StUDT OP SYS- 



TEMATIC BOTANT . . . . ... 8 



Misapprehension of the objects and importance of the study . . 8 

 Desirability of explaining its fundamental principles — Principles of 

 classification in the Vegetable Kingdom difficult of acquisition rela- 

 tively to those of the Animal Kingdom ... .9 



Necessity of philosophical definitions in framing characters of Natural 

 Orders, G-enera, and Species . ... 10 



Impossibihty of defining these properly without study and compre- 

 hensive knowledge — Recklessness with which genera and species are 

 proposed, and consequent confusion of Indian Botany . . .11 

 Necessity of hbrary and herbarium — Proneness to exaggerate the 

 inimber of species — Defective education in Botanical science pro- 

 motes this . . . . . . . 12 



Consequent disrepute into which the study is brought' — Habitual 



b 



