FIRST EDITION. xi 



making a beginning. A very small house is sufficient, 

 hot- water pipes or tanks are now cheap, and a small 

 boiler may be had for 21. 10s., or less ; and glass 

 (thanks to Sir Robert Peel) is also within the means of 

 the humblest gardener ; and those who refer to Mr. 

 Rivers' account in the Chronicle of how to make cheap 

 lights, and build cheap houses, will find that for 40?., or 

 less, a very sufficient Orchid-house, with hot-water 

 apparatus, may be put up. 



"Knowing the pleasure derived by many in the 

 humblest classes from the cultivation of flowers, and 

 how much talent, patience, and ingenuity are often 

 displayed by such amateurs, I feel gratified by the hope 

 that I may possibly be the means of increasing the 

 harmless amusement of many. It is not likely that 

 Mr. Williams' instructions will interest or inform those 

 cultivators Mr. Mylam, Mr. Blake, Mr. Bassett, 

 Messrs. Yeitch, Rollisson, &c., or others at the head of 

 the great collections of this country ; it is merely for the 

 benefit of the beginner that they are intended. As 

 regards the fitness of Mr. Williams to instruct, the best 

 proof I can offer of this is, that for some years he has 

 exhibited, both at Chiswick and in the Regent's Park, 

 and a reference to the prize lists will show that he was 

 always successful, and, during the past years (i. e., pre- 

 vious to 3848), obtained 23 gold and 12 silver medals 



