to be necessary were made. With regard to the citation of previous authors, I have as a rule considered it unnecessary to do more than quote the publications that deal solely or mainly with New Zealand botany, such as Forster's Prodromus, A. Richard's Flora, Cunningham's Precursor, Raoul's Choix, and the works of Hooker and Kirk. Had I given references to general works on botany or to special monographs, the bulk of this work would have been greatly increased without sufficient corresponding advantage. I have, however, quoted the publication in which the species under consideration was first described; and, in the case of those plants which extend to Australia or Tasmania, I have usually given a reference to Bentham's "Flora Australiensis" or Hooker's "Flora of Tasmania." The synonomy I have treated in a similar manner. As far as the information at my command would permit, I have quoted all published names of endemic New Zealand plants, and all names founded upon New Zealand specimens. Further quotation would, in my opinion, be neither necessary nor expedient for the purposes of this work.
Every botanist who prepares a Flora starts from the standpoint reached by his predecessors in the same field. In the subjoined history of botanical discovery in New Zealand I have endeavoured to give a sketch of the labours of all those who have investigated the botany of the colony, either as authors or collectors, and who have thus assisted in providing material for future study and research. But, in addition, it is advisable to briefly mention the chief material upon which the present work is founded. At the outset I must state that I have relied very largely upon my own notes and observations, formed during thirty-five years' continuous study of the flora, and upon my herbarium, which I believe to be the largest and most complete formed by individual effort within the colony.
I am indebted to the Education Department for the loan of that portion of the herbarium of the late Mr. Kirk which after his death was purchased by the New Zealand Government. Although comprising only a small part of the collections formed by this active and enterprising botanist, it nevertheless includes excellent and well-selected specimens of most of the species of the flora, including the types of the new species described by him, and has consequently proved an important aid to me. It is to be regretted that Mr. Kirk's botanical papers and other manuscripts, none of which I have seen, were not included in this purchase.
