THE 



OECHID-GEOWEH'S MANUAL. 



INTEODUCTION. 



HE cultivation of OrcMdaceous plants is no longer 

 exclusively tlie privilege of tlie few, since their nature 

 and requirements are far better understood than 

 was the case a few years ago. This has arisen chiefly from 

 two causes : firstly, from the useful information given us by 

 those who have studied the plants in their native habitats ; 

 and, secondly, from the close study and application by means 

 of which cultivators at home have brought the results of the 

 observations of travellers to bear in a practical manner on the 

 culture of the plants when introduced into this country. It 

 cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of all who 

 send home plants of this order from foreign lands that every 

 scrap of information respecting the climate, temperature, alti- 

 tude, soil, &c., of the locality in which each species is found, 

 is of the greatest importance to the cultivator no less than 

 to the scientific observer. Not, indeed, that under cultivation 

 we can strictly imitate the natural surroundings of each 

 particular species or variety ; neither do I think in all cases 



