2 ORCHID-GROWEll S MANUAL. 



of each, so far as the means at our command would permit. The want 

 of some such information has been a source of extreme vexation to many 

 lovers of these plants in years gone by. For instance, had we received 

 even the most meagre account of the natural physical and climatal 

 surroundings of the many fine things found and collected by 

 M. Warscewicz, and other travellers of the same period, the collections 

 of the present day would be able to boast, as now they cannot, of many 

 fine species which have never since reached this country in a living state. 

 The collections alluded to were sent to Europe in a very careless manner, 

 and without the slightest indications of the conditions under which they 

 had been growing ; and, Orchidology being then in its infancy, they 

 were nearly all killed by being subjected to excessive heat, the keeping 

 up of a strong heat being in those days considered the correct course 

 to pursue with all Orchidaceous plants. Thus hundreds of beautiful 

 species, which had been collected at great cost and risk, and were 

 purchased by eager amateurs at home, oftentimes at high prices, 

 rapidly died out, simply from the prevailing ignorance of the climatal 

 conditions of the localities in which they had been collected. 



Thus it will be seen, that in order to assist in preventing a repetition 

 of such disasters and disappointments, the experience of those who have 

 had the good fortune to see Orchids growing in a state of nature is of 

 the greatest importance, giving as it does a solid basis to any experi- 

 ments which may be made. Strange as it may appear to some, and 

 ridiculous as it has been pronounced by others, we do not consider it 

 advisable to imitate strictly the natural conditions in which plants are 

 sometimes found, because we have seen so many proofs that, as 

 individual specimens, the cultivated plants are frequently to be seen in 

 greater perfection than those grown in their native habitats. It is, 

 indeed, only reasonable to infer that such would be the case with the 

 majority of small-growing tropical plants, when \^'e consider the struggle 

 for existence which is constantly going on throughout the vegetable 

 kingdom, and remember that they are subject to all the vicissitudes of 

 the seasons ; whereas under cultivation extreme care and attention are 

 bestowed upon each individual plant,, and no pains are spared to develop 

 its beauties, and shield it from every harm. We admit that -we should 

 by all means take nature as our guide for the production of good plants, 

 but it should be nature in her best garb only ; and then, looking as we 



