PREFACE. 
Jt is not an unpleasing task to meet, as it were, a multitude of 
friends, and have with them a few moments’ converse in a bien- 
nial preface. There are hundreds amongst our readers and cor- 
respondents witli whom we could wish the intercourse were more 
reciprocal. Whether the limit of our action be narrow or ex- 
tended, we hope, however, to do as hitherto — to adhere to the 
true representation of nature, give extensive information to the 
cultivator, and the naturalist, and never to lose sight of the first 
great cause. 
It may be unnecessary to recapitulate our labours. They 
are already before our readers — the legitimate judges. Their 
sentence can annihilate or animate. This being our position, it 
is with no common feelings of pleasure and gratitude, that 
through the progress of ten years, we have found the sunshine of 
public favour glow with increasing brightness on the flowers of 
our Botanic Garden. An influence so genial will necessarily 
stimulate their growth, although aphides and innumerable larvae 
may swarm in their precincts. 
The progressive encouragement of our friends, enabled us, 
nearly two years ago, to give practical proof of their favours, by 
adding the Auctarium, as a means of registering miscellaneous 
directions and discoveries, which could not, conveniently, be 
combined under the regular subjects of the work. By con- 
densing our matter, we have, it is hoped, already brought toge- 
ther, in small compass, a considerable mass of interesting and 
