INTRODUCTION. xvii 



has had no personal experience ; for cultural direc- 

 tions and descriptions of these, he is indebted to 

 those of other writers, among whom he may mention 

 Mr. B. S. Williams, author of the " Orchid Grower's 

 Manual." The many illustrated magazines have been 

 carefully studied, and it is hoped the directions may 

 be sufficiently explicit. 



The chapter on History of Orchid Culture in the 

 United States, will be valuable as putting on record 

 facts which, now within the memory of the living, 

 might before many years have been forever lost. 



For information and kind assistance, he would ex- 

 press his obligations to John A. Lowell, Esq., of Bos- 

 ton, Gen. John F. Rathbone, and Mr. Louis Menand, 

 of Albany ; George Such, of South Amboy, and Mr. 

 John Fleming, L. A. Lienau, and Isaac Buchanan, 

 of New York. 



That there are errors both of commission and 

 of omission, in a volume embracing so great a range 

 is more than probable. 



Experience will bring knowledge, and not only 

 develop new modes of culture, but demonstrate their 

 superiority, and it is to lead to the experiment of Or- 

 chid culture those by whom it is as yet untried, as 

 well as to aid the present Ochiologist, that the vol- 

 ume is given to the public. 



GLEN RIDGE, Jamtary, 1876. 



