282 
the Zanzibar market. So, too, on the West Coast of Africa, the 
trade consists almost entirely of vegetable products, some of which 
have only recently been brought to light. 
**Lord Salisbury is of opinion that a proper knowledge of the 
flora of Tropical Africa would do much to aid the development 
of the territories over which this country has recently acquired 
an influence, and he would therefore suggest that the completion 
of the work in question should at once be carried out. 
«*T am, &c.; 
**(Signed) T. V. LISTER. 
“<The Director, Kew Gardens. 
“In replying to this letter I pointed out that my scientific staff 
was 80 occupied with routine work that it was impossible to treat 
the completion of the Flora as a matter of official duty. If, how- 
undertaking, I was willing to do my best, with such voluntary 
assistance as I could obtain, to assist Her Majesty's Government 
in getting the work completed. It was accordingly agreed that a 
commencement should be made in 1892. Much preliminary 
i incon- 
were available for working up subsequently in the Flora. The 
number of species so published up to the present date amounts to 
more than 800. 
“ A list of the known plants occurring in British Central Africa, 
amounting to upwards of 1,800, compiled from the Kew records 
by a member of the Kew staff, Mr. I. H. Burkill, M.A., is printed 
in Sir H. H. Johnston's ‘British Central Africa, pp. 233-284, 
prefaced by a brief history of botanical exploration in the 
Protectorate (see Kew Bulletin, 1897, pp. 170-171). It is estimated 
that the number of species would be increased by the intercalation 
of recent additions to 2,500. 
“As to the general scope of the work, it will be convenient to 
quote the following passage from Professor Oliver's preface to the 
first volume, It still in great measure holds good :— 
Africa interested in the natural productions and economie 
products of the country,’ 
