hoped that the present Hand-list, which enumerates 

 200 genera and 1800 species (including about 50 garden 

 hybrids), will remove that reproach as far, at any rate, as 

 its representative character is concerned. And it is only 

 right to say that in arriving at this result Kew is under 

 great obligations to the liberality of Sir Trevor Lawrence, 

 the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, the Keeper 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasuevin, and various 

 private growers and commercial firms, especially amongst 

 the latter Messrs. F. Sander & Sons, of St. Albans, and 

 Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, at Chelsea. The bulk of 

 the collection has, however, been built up by direct 

 importation and purchase. 



Orchids have been continuously cultivated at Kew 

 from their earliest introduction into this country. The 

 varied fortunes which have attended the collection 

 practically reflect the history of the progress which has 

 been made in the art of growing orchids under artificial 

 conditions. 



The first exotic orchid which was introduced into 

 English gardens was Bletia verecunda, which was 

 obtained from Providence Island, Bahamas, by Peter 

 Collinson, in 1731, and flowered in the following year in 

 the garden of Mr. Wager. About the year 1778 Phaius 

 grandifolius was imported from China by Dr. Fothergill, 

 and a full-sized coloured figure of it is given in the first 

 edition of the Hortiis Keirensis under the name of 

 Liniodoriun Tankeri:i//a'. A peculiar interest attaches 

 to this plant because it was in it and at Kew that in 

 1802 Francis Bauer, who was " resident draughtsman for 

 fifty years to the Royal Botanic Garden," discovered and 



