C 



PREFACE. 



THE Second Edition of this work being exhausted it has been 

 thought desirable to issue a Third Edition. It is a source of 

 the utmost gratification to me to learn from the letters of a large 

 number of readers that the work so well answers the purpose for which 

 it was intended, viz. : That of a text book conveying to the beginner 

 information calculated best to assist him to take up, with reasonable 

 chances of success, the beautiful study of orchids and their culture. 

 To these correspondents, as well as to the Editors and Reviewers of the 

 gardening periodicals, I beg to offer my grateful thanks for pointing 

 out faults, as well as bestowing so much greatly appreciated praise of 

 the book. Some few have suggested a considerable enlargement, so as 

 to embrace practically the whole of the species known to cultivation. 

 "While acknowledging this would be a great improvement I need hardly 

 say it would at the same time greatly add to the size of the work and 

 consequently the price, while it is somewhat doubtful if its real value 

 and usefulness would increase accordingly. Eemembering therefore 

 the mission for which it first saw light (see paye 143), I propose to add 

 instead another chapter entitled " Results of further experience, or the 

 Amateur's Orchid House" and another on the "Culture of Odonto- 

 glossum crispum," which I hope may still further assist. 



As various writers on orchids, and compilers of Catalogues, do not 

 all agree as to the spelling of the names of Some Orchids, I thought it best 

 to be guided in this matter by some high authority, and have to thank 

 Mr. R. A. Rolfe for his most valuable services in this respect, and for 

 kindly reading the proofs. 



H. A. BURBERRY. 



