viii 



PEEFACE. 



tion not being so large as those of many others, it was 

 only the last two years that Mr. Williams competed in 

 the highest class of twenty plants/^ 



Since the first appearance of these observations, I 

 have revised them, and have added notices of several 

 desirable, showy, and new species ; and the following 

 pages will contain short and plain, but, it is believed, 

 accurate descriptions of more than 260 of the best Orchids 

 now in cultivation. I cannot resist this opportunity of 

 expressing my gratification at finding that it has come to 

 my knowledge that the publication of these papers 

 has already induced several persons to commence the 

 cultivation of this interesting class of plants. 



Any reader of this Manual w^ho may be interested 

 in the commencement and progress of the culture of 

 Orchids in this country, will find a clear and useful 

 summary of information on this subject in an article 

 on Ephiphytes in the " Penny Cyclopedia.'^ 



