472 



Dr. Wights Prospectus 



[Oct. 



them, which he can compare/point by point, with the written characters 

 of the natural orders, selecting for illustration, as often as circum- 

 stances will permit, such plants as are valued on account of their use- 

 ful properties. 



In inviting public support to an undertaking of a kind so novel in 

 Madras, it is necessary to give some information regarding the plan 

 and cost of the work, 'though neither can as yet be said to be defini- 

 tively determined upon. Several plans have suggested themselves, 

 but the following seems to merit the preference. 



The quarto size will be adopted, as affording more room for analysis 

 and freer scope to the artist in making the drawings, a very consider- 

 able number of which are already prepared. The figures are to be 

 coloured, and on each, in addition to the name of the order and plant 

 figured, it is proposed to write the Tamui and Teloogoo and occasionally 

 other names, in both native and Roman characters ; and, lastly, each 

 plate, in addition to its own number, will have the general number of 

 the species in my Prodromus, if the plant is already described there, to 

 facilitate reference, and after arrangement, should that become ne- 

 cessary. The letter press, in place of (as usual in such works) con" 

 sisting of simple descriptions of the plants figured, and which can be 

 little else than repetitions of the characters already published in the 

 Flora, will, in the hope of rendering this portion of the work more 

 generally useful and agreeable to both the botanical - and general 

 reader, be devoted to remarks illustrative of structural peculiarities ; 

 the valuable properties which predominate, either in the individual 

 figured, or in the order to which it belongs ; the methods adopted for 

 procuring these, and peculiarities of culture, where such are required 

 in their production. 



In extent, it is not expected to exceed three hundred plates (but 

 may possibly fall short of that number), to be published at the rate of 

 about one hundred annually, in numbers, commencing in January 1838, 

 or so soon as the names of one hundred subscribers are received ; and 

 continued, either monthly or every alternate month, as may be found 

 most generally convenient and economical. The estimated cost to 

 subscribers will not exceed thirty rupees, per volume of one 

 hundred plates; one half of which is the cost of colouring alone, the 

 remainder being charged for the letter press which will be copious), 

 lithography, paper, drawing, &c, and at this price it is nearly fifty per 

 cent, under the English price of similar works. 



This low price is effected by charging little more than the actual 

 cost; it forming no part of my plan to reap personal profit from a 

 ■work, the conducting of which I look upon as part of my present 

 official duties. But, as it cannot expected that I should *be a loser 



