TO OUR READERS. 
In closing the Eighth Volume of the " Tropical Agriculturist," we would 
once more direct 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 embody in our pages 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 capitalists, never forgetting that agriculture trenches 
upon every department of human knowledge, beside being the basis of personal 
and communal wealth. 
While directing our attention chiefly to the products p. mmently men- 
tioned on our title-page, we have always taken care to nonce 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 Leinj_ 
examined in the light of the teachings of commonsense as well as of i rolonged tropical 
experience in this, the leading Crown and Planting Colony oi the British bin] ( 
The official Reports on the Royal Botanic and Economic Gardens m CeyJon 
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 eighth volume, which we now place in our subscribers' 
hands, in lull confidence that it wiil be received with an amount of approval, 
at least equal to that which has been so kindly extended to its predecessors. 
We are convinced thai 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 eight 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-tropicai 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, indued, must the " Tropical Agriculturist " continue to do well. 
A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 
Colombo, Ceylon: ist June 1889, 
