includes many Indian plants. To these may be added Blume’s Rumphia (a work I have not been so
fortunate as to have seen), and Horsfield’s Java Plants. As valuable books of reference, though
now rather out of date, we have Rheede’s Hortus Malabaricus, Rumphius’ Herbar. Amboynense,
and the Floras of the two Burmanns. But so far is the field from being exhausted that, I may say
for myself, bad circumstances permitted, my materials are still so ample, that I could easily have
continued ’this work through 1500 or 2000 additional plates, the subjects for the most part appertaining
to the Peninsular flora. I t is to be hoped, therefore, th at some new aspirant to botanical
fame and honors will be induced to resume the work thus prematurely dropped, now that such
an efficient press exists for carrying it on.
With these brief prefatory notes I consign these volumes to the indulgent consideration of the
public, cherishing the hope that they may not often disappoint the hopes of those who have occasion
to consult them, and that they may prove the means of encouraging some of the many admirers of the
beauties and perfections of all Nature’s works, who had previously been discouraged by the difficulties
which beset their path, so long as they had written characters only to guide them to a knowledge
of the principles and objects of their study and admiration, to devote a portion of their leisure
to the cultivation of Indian Botany.
Coimbatore, 20th January, 1853. ROBERT WIGHT.
DATES OF PUBLICATION.
Voi. I. Nos. 2, 3, (Plates 21— ................... Sept. 1838-
--------- Nos. 4, 5, (61—100), ............................................. Nov. 1838.
--------- Nos.; 6, 7, 8. (101—161) ................................ June 1839.
--------- Not 9, (162—1 81X& .................................... Ang. 1839.
--------- No. 10, (182—201) Sept. 1839.
--------- Nos, 11, 12, (202—241) Nov. 1839.
--------- Nos. 13, 14, (242—279) Feb. 1840.
---------'ISfos, 15, 16, (280—318) f ...................................... May 1840.
Von. II. (319—736) , , . , ; . . . , ............. ................. . 1840—1843.
V a t. H I. Parts I. II. III. (|3 7—1046) ___ . . . 1843 to Nov. 1845.
— P art TV. (1047—U 6 2m !$ '.': ......... , , ................... Sept. 1846.
Von. TV. Part I. l | l 163—1282) Jan. 1848.
-------------- Part II. (1283- 140.8) Aug. 1848.
-------------- P art IIL (1404—1501) Apr. 1849.
-------------- P art IF . (1502—1621) ' ............................... May 1850.
Vol. V. P a r t I. Orchidece, (162^—1762) ; , . . . . ................ May 1851.
------------- Part II. (1763—1920) ....................................... . . Jan. 1852.
Vol. VI. (1921—2101) ................................................................ Mar. 1853.
N. 11.—Some of the above.dates (viz. vols. n. and hi.), I regret to say, can only be considered approx-
imations; the successive parts, very unfortunately, not having been dated as they appeared.