vill AUTHORS PRETAGCE. 
“Orchids”? is founded on a smaller work, prepared for 
the same publishers in 1878, namely, ‘Orchids for Amateurs,” 
by .Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S., of the British Musemmy and 
Mr. W. H. Gower, an experienced Orchid grower. The 
original intention was to bring this latter work up to 
date by adding simply the species of Orchids introduced 
into gardens since it was published. It was found, 
however, that so much knowledge respecting cultural and 
other matters had been added within the last twenty or so 
years that it would be easier to write anew the greater 
portion of the work than to patch up the old. At the same 
time, we have included in some of the chapters a consider- 
able portion of what was written by Messrs. Britten and 
Gower; the chapter on “Structure and Other Peculiarities,” 
by Mr. Britten, we have used with scarcely any alteration. 
The bulk of ‘‘Orchids”’ is, however, new—that is if works 
of this kind can be called new. 
The present title is preferred because it is felt that a 
work of this character should be useful to professional as 
well as amateur cultivators. 
April, 1890. 
