TO OUR READERS. 
In closing the Seventh Volume of the " Tropical Agriculturist," we have 
but to repeat what we have said on similar previous occasions, in directing attention 
to the large amount of useful information afforded, and to the great variety of topics 
treated in our pages. From month to month, we have endeavoured to lay before 
our readers the latest results of practical experience and scientific teaching in all that 
concerns tropical agriculture; and our ambition has been to make this periodical 
not only indispensable to the planter, but of service to business men and capital- 
ists, never forgetting that agriculture trenches upon every department of human 
knowledge, besides being the basis of personal and communal wealth. 
While directing our attention chiefly to the products prominently men- 
tioned on our title-page, we have never omitted to notice minor industries likely 
to fit in with sub-tropical conditions ; and our readers have an ample guarantee 
in the pages before them, that, in the future, no pains will be spared to bring 
together all available information both from the West and East, the same "being 
examined in the light of the teachings of commonsense as well as of prolonged tropical 
experience in this, the leading Crown and Planting Colony of the British Empire. 
The official Reports on the Royal Botanic and Economic Gardens in Ceylon 
are republished in full in the present volume, and throughout our pages will be 
found reviews of, and extracts from, the Reports of other Botanic Gardens situated 
in or near the tropics. We are ready to give copious extracts from, if not to 
reprint in extenso, the Reports of all other sub-tropical Public Botanic Gardens 
which may reach us. Most of these Reports we already receive and utilize as 
abovementioned for the benefit of our planting readers. 
A full and accurate Index affords the means of ready reference to every 
subject treated in this, the seventh volume, which we now place in our subscribers' 
hands, in full confidence that it will be received with an amount of approval, 
at least equal to that which has been so kindly extended to its predecessors. 
We are convinced that no more suitable or useful gift can be made to 
the tropical planter or agriculturist, whether he be about to enter on his career, 
or with many years of experience behind him, than the half-dozen volumes of 
our periodical which we have now made available. They are full of informa- 
tion bearing on every department and relating to nearly every product within 
the scope of sub-tropical industry. 
In conclusion, we have to tender our thanks to readers and contributors, and 
our wish that all friends may continue to write instructively and to read with approval ; 
for then, indeed, must the " Tropical Agriculturist " continue to do well. 
A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 
ColomSo, Ceylon: 18th June i SSb. 
