PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION. 



In issuing a newly-revised edition of the " Orchid- 

 Grower's Manual," which has gained notoriety 

 throughout the world, it needs little explanation on 

 my part in bringing the fifth edition before my readers, 

 as I have had abundant proof of its utility by its being 

 translated into the Russian language by M. Wolkenstein, 

 and having been desired to have it also translated myself 

 into other European languages. It is now many years 

 since I wrote the first edition of this work, and at that 

 time the number of Orchid-Growers was very limited ; 

 since then the increase has been extraordinary : where 

 there were hundreds then there are now thousands of 

 Growers. It is highly gratifying to me to know that 

 many of these received their first instructions from the 

 *' Manual," having received letters from them to that 

 eifect. Since the fourth edition was published, there 

 have been many beautiful additions to our collections, 

 and the species and varieties since then have greatly 

 increased. Our collectors, who spare no pains to ob- 

 tain these valuable plants, deserve our hearty thanks. 



