§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the manuscript of the fourth volume of the "Flora of Tropical Africa," which is being issued by the scientific authorities of the Royal Gardens at Kew, has been ready for the press in the hands of the Director since February last; what progress, if any, has been made with the printing of this volume; and when the issue of this volume to the public may be looked for?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)The Director of Kew Gardens informed me in April last that Volume IV. was in an advanced state of preparation, but very little of it appears to be yet in type. Two other volumes—Nos. VII. and V.—are being printed first. The third and last part of Volume VII. is, I am informed, nearly ready. There have been certain difficulties as to the printing of Volume V., but the publishers have now declared themselves ready to proceed with it.