PREFACE 



SHORTLY before his death, Mr. Darwin informed me of his intention to 

 devote a considerable sum in aid or furtherance of some work of utility 

 to biological science; and to provide for its completion, should this not be 

 accomplished during his lifetime. He further informed me that the difficulties 

 he had experienced in accurately designating the many plants which he had 

 studied, and ascertaining their native countries, had suggested to him the com- 

 pilation of an Index to the Names and Authorities of all known Flowering 

 Plants and their Countries, as a work of supreme importance to Students of 

 Systematic and Geographical Botany, and to Horticulturists, and as a fitting 

 mode of fulfilling his intentions. 



I have only to add that, at his request, I undertook to direct and supervise 

 such a work; and that it is being carried out at the Herbarium of the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, with the aid of the staff of that establishment. 



JOS. D. HOOKER 



