X PREFACE. 



Their lives and health stand at a great risk, and through 

 their energy the stock of many Orchids that have heen 

 rare for years have heen greatly increased thereby, 

 giving all cultivators a chance of procuring plants at 

 a cheaper rate, for many of the most beautiful kinds 

 can be obtained for a few shillings at the present 

 day, when at one time they were only within reach 

 of the rich at exorbitant prices ; now some of the 

 most beautiful species can be cultivated in cool houses, 

 so that they are less trouble and also less expense. 

 Many of these plants are small growing, and do not 

 take up much space to grow them in, so by having a 

 small house a great number may be cultivated ; yet they 

 produce very handsome flowers, and continue in bloom so 

 much longer than other plants. We have introduced in 

 this edition an engraving of an Orchid House taken from 

 a photograph, showing the effect produced by inter- 

 mixing Ferns, Palms, &c., among Orchid flowers. It 

 will be seen how graceful the foliage appears, and it 

 is undoubtedly a vast improvement in the arrangement 

 of a House. It is wise to have a division in the House 

 for plants in bloom, as they can be treated so that their 

 flowers will last long in beauty. We have also added 

 a coloured frontispiece of the beautiful Odontoglossum 

 vexillarium, and many illustrations of the most popular 

 kinds, some original, others kindly lent, for which we 

 owe our thanks to the editors of the "Gardener's 

 Chronicle,'' " The Garden," " The Journal of Hortl- 



