The author is one of the greatest Orchid specialists the world has known. As a practical cultivator in the old Pine Apple Nurseries of Messrs. Henderson, he had the good fortune to flower many species for the first time after their introduction, and ever since those early days he has continued to specialise in these plants. He is secretary of the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and in 1897 he was included in the first sixty horticulturists who were selected to receive the Victoria Medal of honour in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee.
Our grateful acknowledgments are made to Lieut.-Col. Sir G. L. Holford, K.C.V.O., for his kindness in affording us facilities for getting the illustrations. Every plant illustrated is a first-rate specimen of its kind, and all have been photographed in Sir George Holford's collection at Westonbirt, which is so well cultivated by his grower, Mr. H. G. Alexander.
THE EDITOR.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction, [1]
CHAP.
I. The Rise and Progress of Orchid Culture, [3]
II. Structure of Orchid Flowers, [6]
III. Difficulties to Overcome, [8]
IV. Structure of the Orchid House, [9]
V. The Potting and Basketing Process, [22]
VI. Removing Useless Leaves and Bulbs, [31]
VII. Propagation by Division, [34]
VIII. Watering Epiphytal Orchids, [35]
IX. Manures for Orchids, [39]
X. Resting Orchids, [44]
XI. Specially Rare and Valuable Plants, [46]
XII. Diseases and Insect Pests, [47]
XIII. Periodical Inspection, [50]
XIV. Orchids for the Conservatory, [52]
XV. Orchids as Cut Flowers, [55]
XVI. Importing Orchids, [59]
XVII. Treatment of Imported Orchids, [63]
XVIII. Odours of Orchids, [65]
XIX. Hybridising and Raising Seedling Orchids, [67]
XX. Enumeration of the Principal Genera and Species in Cultivation, [81]
XXI. Orchid Hybrids, [109]
Index, [111]