18 TUEATMENT OF EPIPHYTAL ORCHIDS. 



moisture from tlie shelves : this evil is, however, easily obviated 

 bv placing small square pieces of lathwood under the pots, 

 ^vhich allows the superfluous moisture to pass off freely. 



"Watering, or the supplying moisture to the plants, should be 

 done witli much caution, particularly with respect to the kinds 

 which have large leathery permanent leaves and less succulent 

 stems, like Cattleyas, &c. ; for in many cases, when given over 

 head, the water collects upon the leaves and afterwards runs 

 down into the hearts of the young shoots and rots them. Heavy 

 syringing, or watering over head, except in very dry weather, 

 even though with care, is objectionable, more particularly in 

 autumn. 



When the plants are large. Orchids are easily increased by di- 

 viding them into pieces, each having a portion of the root attached 

 to it, and a young bud at the base of the pseudo-bulb. This 

 should be done when the plants have just commenced growing. 

 The hard dry woody stems of Cattleyas, Laelias, and similar sorts, 

 should be partly cut through with a sharp knife some time pre- 

 vious to removal ; old pseudo-bulbs seldom grow when separated, 

 therefore always choose a young bulb, and one from the outside 

 of the plant, having a fresh bud at its base, 



4. Treatment of fresh imported plants, S)C. 



Orchids, when newly imported from their native country, 

 or which have become sickly from improper treatment or otlier 

 causes, require the same kind of management to bring them into 

 health. The best way to efiect this is to lay them on some dry 

 » moss, and place them in a shady part of the stove, or in some 

 close pit where there is but little moisture in the atmosphere, 

 and where they can remain until they show signs of growth. 

 The atmosphere surrounding them, and the moss, should be 

 gradually moistened, first their leaves, and stems after\vards, for 

 nothing is more fatal to fresh imported plants than much mois- 

 ture ; but when they begin to emit new roots, treat them in the 

 same way as plants recovering from a state of rest. Most Orchids 

 perfect their foliage first, and flowers afterwards, whether on 

 annual or deciduous stems, or otherwise ; and when any plant 

 blooms profusely it seldom recovers its vigour again before the 

 second season, more especially if its blooming has been pro- 

 longed much beyond the usual time. Removing the plants 

 when in bloom to a cool dry place, and keeping them for a 

 long time in bloom, is injurious, particularly if they have pre- 

 viously been subjected to a high temperature and much mois- 

 ture ; such treatment should therefore be avoided as mucli as 

 possible. 



