AUG 7- 1923 
LIS ARY 
NEW YORK 
BOTANICAL 
>a vs 
PREFACE. 
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Tuis is an attempt to describe the Orchids growing on the 
Peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope; to give their names 
and synonyms; to arrange them as far as possible in groups; 
to adduce the stations where they have been found, and their 
further distribution so far as known. To this is added a list 
of collectors ; and of books and papers already published upon 
the subject of South-African Orchidology. 
I regret that it does not go further; and that I have been 
unable to clothe these dry bones with living flesh and blood, 
and exhibit the life-history of some of the complex and curious 
organisms here enumerated. Such as the work is, it has 
occupied a great part of the leisure time in an active business 
life during several years. I can only hope that I may have 
made it easier for those who may come after me, and who, 
freed from the work of the systematist, may find themselves 
stimulated to the more agreeable task of patiently watching 
the operations and discovering the secrets of Nature. 
But, incomplete as the work is, it is not entirely my own, 
and could not have been accomplished without the help of 
others. First must be acknowledged the unstinted aid of 
the authorities of that splendid institution of which all English- 
men are justly proud, the Royal Gardens and Herbarium at 
Kew; especially of Mr. N. E. Brown, A.L.8., a member of its 
staff, who, in the most liberal manner, has placed at my 
disposal the results of his valuable, and as yet unpublished 
work upon the Orchids of Thunberg’s herbarium ; also of 
Prof. Oxtver, F.R.S., who has most kindly, during my absence 
from England, superintended the passing of the plates through 
the press. Next, amongst friends at the Cape, I must express 
my hearty thanks to Prof. A. Bopxin, M.A., whose enthusi- 
astic pleasure in botanical excursions, and success in the 
