4 
INTRODUCTION. 
a youthful ardour for scientific and especially horticultural re- 
search^ has generously placed the material for the present essay 
at my disposal. Connected records of New Guinean plants do 
not as yet exist in phytographic literature. The field for special 
work in this direction is therefore mostly untrodden, though the 
extensive collections of Dr. Beccari, in whose treasures I am to 
participate, are likely to give us early an ampler insight into the 
probably very varied vegetation of New Guinea. 
Its mountain flora particularly will likely carry with it the 
charm of novelty, the true oaks already discovered being likely 
only one of the numerous objects of promising interest. The 
blending also of Australian forms, such as the Eucalypts, which 
now have come to light, with Sundaic tyjoes of plants, will render 
to an Australian naturalist the study of the Papuan vegetation 
one of great significance, while undoubtedly thereby the means 
will be suggested of transferring many new plants of economic 
medicinal or industrial value to Australian shores. 
Melbourne, November 1875, 
