THE 



ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



INTRODUCTION. 



I'HB cultivation of Orchidaceous plants is no longer exclusirely 

 the privilege of the few, now that their nature and require- 

 ments are better understood than was the case in former 

 "^ years. This has arisen chiefly from three causes : firstly, 

 from the useful information given us by those who hsive 

 studied the plants in their native habitats ; secondly, from the 

 close study and application by means of which cultivators at home 

 have brought the varied observations of travellers to bear in a practical 

 manner on the culture df the plants when introduced into this country ; 

 and thirdly, from the fact having been discovered that many, at least, 

 of the most ornamental species require less heat and less expensive 

 appliances than was once thought necessary, thus bringing them within 

 the reach of a larger constituency. 



It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of all who send 

 plants of this order home from foreign lands that every scrap of 

 information respecting the climate — temperature, rainfall, altitude — soil, 

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

 importance not only to the scientific observer, but also to the cultivator ; 

 not because we can under cultivation strictly imitate the natural 

 surroundings of each particular species or variety, nor, indeed, do we 

 think that this would in all cases be desirable, but the information would 

 enable us to adopt the treatment most congenial to the requirements 



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