PREFACE.
abroad were able to procure for them; and the Government of Jamaica has sent a
public present to his Majesty of plants collected in that Island.
Amidst the uniform protection which the Royal Owner of these gardens has constantly
afforded to every species of science, Botany had not a right to expect more than
its proportional share; the increase of conveniences of every kind in Kew garden has,
however, by his Majesty's royal favour, kept equal pace with the increase of plants;
new houses have been built, upon a most ample scale, and of a most convenient construction
: the garden itself has lately received a considerable addition of space ; and
the whole has been laid out, under his Majesty's immediate direction, in a manner so
commodious, that it is not only capable of containing the whole of the present Collection
with ease, but of receiving all such additions as may probably be made to it, for
several years to come.
Under circumstances so uncommonly fortunate to a gardener, whose chief pride
centers in the healthiness of his plants, and whose best pleasure is deduced from the
pursuit of his profession, it has been thought proper, to make preparations for publishing
a new edition of the Horlas Kewensis; and, in the mean time, to present
the public with the work to which this is prefixed, intended to be annually continued,
provided it meets with a favourable reception, as long as the excellent draughtsman,
who has undertaken the execution of it, can be prevailed upon to remain in England,
for that purpose.
It will appear singular, at first sight, that engravings of plants should be published
without the addition of botanical descriptions of their generic and specific characters;
but it is hoped, that every Botanist will agree, when he has examined the plates with
attention, that it would have been an useless task to have compiled, and a superlluous
expence to have printed, any kind of explanation concerning them ; each figure is intended
fo answer itself every question a Botanist can wish to ask, respecting the structure
of the plant it represents ; the situation of the leaves and flowers are carefully imitated,
and the shape of each is given in a magnified, as well as in a natural size. The
internal structure of the flower, respecting the shape and the comparative size of its
PREFACE.
component parts, is also, in all cases, carefully displayed ; nothing therefore appears to
be wanting but the synonyms of such authors as may have before described it, and the
specific difference by which each species is technically distinguished from all others
of the same genus ; for these the reader is referred to the intended edition of the Hortus
Kewensis, where every plant published in this number will be inserted by the name
engraved under it; and where descriptions of each, if found necessary to distinguish
them from plants of which proper descriptions or figures have not been published, will
be given at length.