PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION, 



The issue of a new and thorougbly-re-vised edition 

 of the Obchid-Gkowek's Manual, which has gained 

 notoriety throughout the world, needs but little ex- 

 planation on our part. We have had abundant proof 

 of its utility by the demand there has been for the 

 successive editions, by its having been translated into 

 the Russian language by M. Wolkenstein, and by our 

 having also been requested to have it translated into other 

 European languages. It is now many years since we 

 wrote the first edition. At that time the number of 

 Orchid-Growers was very limited, but since then the 

 increase has been extraordinary, so that where there 

 were hundreds there are now thousands of Growers. 

 It is highly gratifying to us to know, through letters 

 received from them to that efi"ect, that many of these, 

 not only in this country, but on the Continent, in 

 America, and the Colonies, obtained their first instruc- 

 tions from the " Manual." 



Since the former edition was published, there have 

 been many beautiful additions to our collections, and 

 the number of species and varieties has been greatly 

 increased. These, so far as they have been thought 

 worthy, have been incorporated in our pages. Our 

 collectors, who spare no pains to obtain these valuable 



