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the Government steamer Victoria and of H. M. S. Rapid, to 
form a collection of plants from the dependencies of Mauritius. 
An old employe of the Society, familiar with the occupation, 
accordingly took his departure, and after an absence of two 
months, returned with a sufficient quantity of plants to enable 
us to form an idea of the Flora of Rodrigues, Diego, Peros 
Banhos, and of Mahe, one of the Sechelles Islands. It is to 
be regretted that the other islands of the Seychelles group 
were not explored, but circumstances beyond the control of 
the collector prevented it. 
The plants thus collected have been prepared by your Se- 
cretary for transmission to Sir W. Hooker, and the specimens 
of Ferns from those Islands have already been forwarded to 
Kew, by the Orontes, in care of Dr. Roch, Surgeon, R. A. 
Your Excellency encouraged the Secretary to forward to 
the Director of Kew Gardens, a sufficient quantity of plants 
to form materials for a Flora of Mauritius. He has according- 
ly sent at different times a large number of Phsenogamous 
which grow in our forests, and of such as have become na- 
turalised by length of time. Other specimens had already 
been received, especially those collected by our much esteem- 
ed friend the late Dr. Ayres. We also notice, in a Report on 
the progress and condition of the Royal Gardens, during the 
vear 1863, that the collection made in our Island about 30 
years ago by the late Judge Blackburn, one of the former 
Presidents of our Society, have also been presented to Kew by 
Admiral Sir W. Bowles, K.C.B. 
These successive contributions must have formed a large 
nucleus of Mauritius plants, and must now supply, a sufficien- 
cy of materials, notes, and observations for the commence- 
ment of a work which is wanting, and which there is no doubt 
that our Plonorable Patron, Sir Henry Barldy, would gladly 
see undertaken. 
An interesting collection and which, of itself, comprises a 
fourth of the Flora of Mauritius, viz., the Ferns, is in the 
course of preparation by the Secretary. 
This collection also is intended for Kew. Notes and obser- 
vations, we confidently hope, will not be wanting. Sir Henry 
and Lady Barkly who have carefully studied the Ferns of our 
Island and those of the Sechelles and Rodrigues, will doub- 
tless communicate the results of their own observations to Sir 
W. Hooker. 
The wish expressed at our last annual meeting that the 
Cinchona plant should be introducted into Mauritius, was 
nearly realised. Your Excellency procured from Madras a ca- 
se of plants of that tree. Unfortunately, taken up too young, 
