mam 



V| 



JNTRODUTIOV 



present volume will depend in great measure upon the patronage extended towards it. U e look 10 thos 

 especially who take interest id the growth of these choice and noble exotics to second our effort* to diffuse 

 .(ill rider a taste for their cultivation, which they may do, not only by supporting, but also by recommend- 

 in- the WO*. It is even now a source of gralulation to know that new cultivators spring up to lake the 

 place of those who joss from amongst us, or who wlbquifih the pursuit, and we look forwanl with hope thai 

 our present labours may have some influence in still further increasing the number. 



Although wc believe that Orchid* have never yet been grown so well as they will be when houses more 

 suitable than those in common use have been erected specially for their culture, and when the time has 

 arrived that will bring us extensive importation* of the rarer species at such prices as lo enable amateurs to 

 try experiments upon them, yet it may be some encouragement to persons of limited means to know that 

 we have ourselves grown and flowered stranger and finer plants than WO have elsewhere seen of Lycmte 

 Stumeri and Odontogtotwnt ffronde, under the shade of thinly-trained grape-vines* notwithstanding that, 

 the value of the grapes in every two years has been fully equal to the whole cost of the house. Many 

 of the finest Orchids are also the cheapest, and least expensive lo cultivate- Thus, for example, wc have 

 now blooms of about two hundred plants of Calllega JW>, each flower measuring from seven to nine 

 inches across, and altogether producing a far finer effect than the same number of any other flowers- Many 

 of ike plants producing the.se flowers have been obtained when small at from o*, to 10*. each \ and, along 

 with many other Orchids they have been grown in a house 30 feet long by 21 feci wide, the whole cost 

 of Which has not exceeded £G0. 



It is intended that our illustrations shall present not only accurate but highly-finished jiortrnits of the 

 most interesting of the species and varieties of the Orchid family, especially those of recent introduction, 

 and these portraits will be accompanied by ample information as lo the details of cultivation, which 

 being derived entirely from practical sources may be implicitly relied on. 



Such was the announcement and such were the promises, accompanied by which the First Part of our 

 SELECT Oiiciiiiiackocs Fusts was, in June, 1SG2. laid before our subscriber* ; and now, at the close of 

 our First Scries of Illustration?, we trust wc may with confidence refer to the work itself as evidence of 

 their fulfilment. Our Figures (thanks to our artists) have been both accurate and highly-finished 

 portraits of interesting Orchitis, ami the information conveyed in the text has been both reliable and 

 practical. Some objections have been urged against the practice of using a binominal nomenclature 

 for varieties, but in ca*es where wc have done so, it has been for the convenience of Orchid-lovers, and 

 wc have not hesitated to indicate at the same lime to the best of our power the affinities of the plants, 

 leaving the pure botanist to deal with them as he might think fit. We fail to sec any reason why fine 

 varieties of Orchids should not bear such distinctive names as will permit of their recognition as garden 

 plants, equally with Roses, Tulips, or any oilier pet flowers. 



The success of the present series, shown by the number of subscribers, has far exceeded our expec- 

 tations, and many have intimated their desire that the Work should he continued. Wc have therefore 

 to announce that we are prepared to issue a Secoxu Semes of Forty Plates in the same style as those of 

 this Fikst Series, All the sketches are made, and fully maintain the credit of the artist. A prospectus 

 will be issued. 



ROBERT WARNER, 



8, ClUttCKST, CltirrLIOATIE, [jONDOX, 



Jfrrnf. I36B. 



\ n -Thr h&md rofamt* </ Mm Sfrirt **d the forttwmiiw Parts tf thr Smnd Series vtit be published ty IfoUrt H'/rrnrr 



