PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



THE following papers were written nearly four years 

 ago, at the suggestion of Mr. Bellenden Ker, who had 

 commenced the cultivation of Orchids, and whose gar- 

 dener then employed was not conversant with their 

 treatment. At first it was intended that the observa- 

 tions should have been printed in a small volume ; but 

 the papers were afterwards offered to the Editor of the 

 "Gardeners' Chronicle," in which publication they 

 appeared under the title of " Orchids for the Million. " 

 They were preceded by the following remarks, made 

 by the gentleman at whose suggestion they were 

 written. 



" Being desirous of growing a few of the more showy 

 Orchidaceous plants, but as neither myself nor my then 

 gardener was acquainted with the mode of their cul- 

 tivation, I applied for some information on this head to 

 Mr. Williams, the gardener of my neighbour, Mr. 

 "Warner, and who kindly, from time to time, gave me 



