This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...all my work is smashed. I was a fool ever to touch orchids. Letter 606 T0 J-D-Hooker. Down, Nov. 17th 1861. What two very interesting and useful letters you have sent me. You rather astound me with respect to value of grounds of generalisation in the morphology of plants. It reminds me that years ago I sent you a grass to name, and your answer was, " It is certainly Festuca (so-and-so), but it agrees as badly with the description as most plants do." I have often laughed over this answer of a great botanist.... Lindley, from whom I asked for an orchid with a simple labellum, has most kindly sent me a lot of what he marks "rare" and " rarissima " of peloric orchids, etc., but as they are dried I know not whether they will be of use. He has been most kind, and has suggested...