PREFACE. 5 



Smith states {Records, p. 206) that the number amounted 

 to nearly 100. 



In Appendix II. to the Kew Report for 1878 a list 

 of species cultivated at that time was given, numbering 

 147. The extent of the collection was much increased 

 by the purchase in 1886 of a large selection from that 

 formed by the late Professor Edouard Morren, of Li^ge, 

 which was at the time probably the richest in existence. 

 The number of species comprised in the present list 

 amounts to 252. 



Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., the present Keeper of the 

 Herbarium of the Royal Gardens, based his invaluable 

 " Handbook of the Bromeliacese " (1889) in great measure 

 on the Kew collection of living plants, supplemented by 

 the unique collection of drawings also formed by 

 Professor Morren and acquired by the Bentham Trustees 

 for the Kew Library. 



For many years the collection of Broraeliaceoe was 

 grown in the Palm House. The atmosphere was, how- 

 ever, too dry for their successful cultivation, and in 

 1883 they were removed to the Stove (No. IX.) and 

 Victoria House (No. X.). 



Cape Bulbs. 



The orders Rcemodoracece, Iridece, Amaryllidece, and 

 Liliacece, though widely dispersed, are represented in 

 especial profusion in South Africa, and the species from 

 that part of the world are collectively often spoken of 

 in cultivation as " Cape Bulbs." The sixth volume of the 

 Flora Capeneis, now in course of publication, is entirely 

 devoted to their description. 



