INTRODUCTION. IX 



V 



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To the extensive regions of forest-land on our borders, we must add the vast tracts 

 of forest and mountain in every part of Hindoost'han; and with these were we to 

 unite the countries east of Eengal, and the Islands scattered about the Indian 

 Ocean, if the number of plants yet undiscovered bears any proportion to those dis- 

 covered within the last twenty years upon any given area of country in India, and 

 indeed actually conveyed to the Botanical Garden at Calcutta, the sum total will al- 

 most exceed the bounds of credibility. 



We are not, however, to conclude that all the plants even of those parts of Bengal 

 which are the best known, are as yet described, or have even been observed. To 

 effect this in any place, a man must be resident on the spot, and be in the habit of 

 constantly examining the fields, the woods, and the different receptacles of water: 

 he must let no opportunity escape him, but collect under his own eye every thing he 

 finds : this however requires such persevering diligence, and attention, that it can 

 never be expected to be universal. A very great part therefore of this large field 

 must remain partially explored for a long time to come : although a more complete 

 knowledge will not cease to be matter of earnest desire to every lover of Botanical 

 science, 



Were Gentlemen who reside in the different parts of India to appropriate a small 

 spot of ground for the reception of the plants which grow wild in their neighbour- 

 hood, and in their occasional excursions to collect those which they find, without 

 overlooking even the most common or despised, and were they then to transmit them,, 

 as opportunity offered, to the Botanical Garden, or even a share of them, the col- 

 lective total furnished by this simple expedient, would soon be very great. But 

 as it would be folly to expect that every European, who resides in India, or even 

 the greater part of them, should have such a taste for the study of nature as to 

 adopt this plan, the utmost we can hope is, that those who are desirous Of contri- 

 buting to the progress of one of the most rational of studies, may adopt some regu- 

 lar method, which should make their labours useful to the Botanical world. 



Opportunities of conveying plants from the distant parts of India to Calcutta 

 ean oceur but seldom, and when they offer, even to those most inclined to communis 



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