P R E F A C E .
ledge of the rest. Plates giving a good representation of the general aspect, of a group may
often be found to supply this knowledge and in India, where large general herbarea (for
the whole world) do not exist, and little progress in the study of natural affinities has been
made, are therefore nearly indispensable to the student of this system of Botany, since by
seeing several species of an order arranged together and put ip contract with those of
some other order, he may acquire such an idea of the appearance of a group, although he
may not be able to explain it to others, as will make a strong impression on himself and
prove eminently useful in advancing his own researches and in preparing his mind for entering
on the more abstract and sublime parts of the study.
According to these views, the correctness of which can scarcely, I presume, be questioned,
it must be evident to every one, at all conversant with the subject, that this work, however
humble in execution, is far otherwise in design and promises, if sufficient support is given
to admit of its extension to three or four such volumes as the one now offered to the public,
to prove one of the most useful yet published on Indian Botany, by enabling all those desirous
of acquiring a knowledge of the plants of this country, to familiarize themselves with appearance
of groups of indigenous plants, by furnishing correct figures of numerous species of
each,in a form so compact and at a cost so moderate that none can complain either of its bulk, and
consequent unfitness for ready reference, nor of the heavy charge to which he must submit in
possessing himself of a copy, 10 rupees being but a small charge for 100 elaborately executed
quarto plates, especially in this country, where the material for getting up such a work is so
very expensive. I am well aware of the imperfections in the printing of some of the plates,
especially of those of the earlier numbers, a defect happily diminishing in each successive
issue. But when it is considered, that Lithography is yet comparatively in its infancy, even
in Europe and decidedly so in this country, that success or failure often depends on atmospheric
changes not cognizable by the senses, that this climate during a considerable part of
the year is most unfavourable and that at the commencement of the work, the experience which
has been gradually acquired in its progress and which enables us in a great degree to counteract
these obstacles, was altogether wanting, few objeptions will I think be .urged on that head.
When in addition I state that these two works were the first of the kind ever undertaken
in Madras, that I had personally to superintend every thing, to supply from my private
resources the stimulus to exertion on the part of those employed in a new and untried occupation,
that my own knowledge of drawing and Lithography was slight, and lastly, that
I had tc* encounter all these difficulties while attending to my own avocations, I trust ample
reason will.have been urged, in extenuation of even greater imperfections than either of them
present, the more so when I add, that the obstacles to be overcome were such as no one, but
myself, can form an adequate conception of.
To compare this work, commenced and prosecuted under such adverse circumstances,
uncheered by public approbation, and so slenderly supported that hitherto it has been conducted
at a very considerable loss, with the luxurious and costly Lithographic botanical
works of Europe would indeed be doing it an injustice, but few I believe will be found ungenerous
enough to try it by such a standard.
Our knowledge of the India Flora though extensive is far from being widely disseminated
and has been obtained through the indefatigable industry of but a small number of
enthusiastic votaries of science. This paucity of labourers, in a country affording so rich and
interesting a harvest, is, I believe, solely attributable to the want of local Floras and the
consequent difficulties with which the study of Indian Botany has been beset. To obviate
P R E F A C E . iii
this impediment to future success and promote a more extended cultivation of this not less
delightful pursuit than useful science, is the grand object I have had in view in the publication
of this and the other botanical works on which I am engaged. That they will produce
this effect I have scarcely a doubt and in this hope alone, this work will be continued
through at least another volume, though hitherto, the support it has received has been
so little commensurate with the labour and cost that, but for this expectation, it would have
ended with this volume. But impressed as I am with the conviction that it will yet fulfil the
object of its publication I have resolved deo volente to carry it through a second volume of
equal extent: a resolution in which I am strengthened, not less by the daily increasing interest
which every thing connected with India is acquiring and by the anxiety expressed by
both the European and local governments, to obtain correct information regarding the products
and resources of this rich, but until lately, much neglected division of the British empire
than by the enlarging list of subscribers. Should my anticipations of success be justified by
the result a third volume may possibly be added raising, the number of species figured to 1000
after which, it must, I imagine, either drop altogether or be resigned into other hands. The
latter would of the two, in my opinion, be the preferable alternative, as it could not but be a
source of regret, after forming the machinery for carrying it on, that it should so soon
cease to work, while there remains so much to be done. The flora of India, calculated at a
very low rate, exceeds 10,000 species, excellent figures of about 2000 of which were left by
Roxburgh. Most of these are still unpublished, but are now, by the public spirit and liberality
of Dr. Wallich in course of publication here. To allow two-thirds of that noble collection
to remain unknown, through want of present support to this work, and the knowledge of the
indefatigable labours of that excellent man be longer left in obscurity, while the means of
bringing them to light are not only at hand but actually working, would indeed be a source
of deep regret to future Botanists, but which, I fear, can only be avoided by the living
Botanists of the present time extending a more liberal patronage to this publication, which,
exclusive of the Government aid, has not paid for paper on which a small impression is
printed, and holds out no inducement to any one to embark in such an unprofitable concern.
One other advantage to which this work may lay claim over most other works of a similar
description, consists in the rapidity of publication. Smith’s English Botany,which extended
to 2592 plates, was 24 years in publishing: at the rate of publication which this work has attained
it would in that time extend to upwards of 5000 species, but supposing only half that number
published, the work will form, beyond all comparison, the most valuable book of reference for
Indian Botany ever published or likely to be even attempted for yet many years. With
these few remarks I conclude this brief preface and leave the work to speak for itself and most
cordially hope it may not speak in vain, but trust it will yet become one of as constant reference
as the eminently praiseworthy and, for the time they were undertaken and executed,
meritorious labours of the excellent VanRheede and proveto Indian Botanists, so far as it
may extend, what Smith’s English Botany has long been to British ones a work of unexceptionable
authority.