2 oiicniDS : now to gkow ttiem successfully. 



to be a source of the greatest pleasure to the cultivator, who 

 soon finds himself deeply interested in the growth of his plants, 

 irrespectively of their beautiful flowers, and watches, with infinite 

 satisfaction, the development of the fine healthy foliage, the 

 shooting of the tender roots as they appear at the base of the 

 jjseudo bulbs and gradually take possession of the compost, or 

 notes the young pseudo bulb as it forms and matures. 



Eighteen years' practical experience in Orchid growing has 

 shown me that, when once their nature is thoroughly understood, 

 much less attention than is generally thought necessary is re- 

 quisite to grow them successfully, their requirements being so 

 simple as to encroach but Httle on the grower's time. It is quite 

 true that some species still baffle the most experienced cultivators, 

 owing, no doubt, to an imperfect knowledge of the climatic and 

 natural conditions they enjoy in their native habitat; but, as these 

 varieties are somewhat difficult to grow, I shall not recommend 

 them to the amateur's consideration until he has gained more 

 experience ; for, as a rule, such sorts are less beautiful than others 

 of easy growth, and can, therefore, be dispensed with. When the 

 necessary culture of a genus or species becomes generally known, 

 the ease and simpHcity of its cidtivation are speedily made mani- 

 fest to the inexperienced amateur, thus leading to its more extended 

 culture and that better appreciation which it so richly deserves. I 

 am anxious, both for the sake of our Orchids, as well as for the 

 benefit of those who may wish to attempt their cultivation, to 

 point out that there is absolutely no difficulty, but what may 

 easily be overcome, as soon as an ordinary knowledge of their 

 requirements has been acquired. And, in order to assist amateurs, 

 I shall do my best to give them such practical information as will 

 materially aid them, provided the instructions I now write for their 

 guidance are carefully perused and strictly followed. Why are 

 Orchids generally supposed to be an expensive luxury and out of 

 the reach of all save the most wealthy ? I think these notions 

 have arisen from the fact that when Orchids are written about in 

 newspapers and periodicals they are invariably associated with the 

 name of some well-known and wealthy individual as their possessor, 

 which leads many persons to regard them as the exclusive property 

 of a privileged few, and consequently invests them with such a 

 degree of costliness as to make them entirely inaccessible to the 

 humbler amateur. There are, I am pleased to be able to say, in 



