54 orchid-grower's manual. 



constant watching and frequent cleansing. "Whenever a plant 

 is purchased that is infested with it, take care to cleanse it 

 thoroughly before placing it in the stove or Orchid house. In 

 a word, never allow insects to get the upper hand, or you will 

 not long continue to gi'ow plants to perfection, for all such 

 pests are as poison to plants — robbing them of their -sdgour, 

 and when they have lost that there is not much hope of them. 

 There are more plants lost through uncleanHness than from 

 any other cause. 



EOT IN OECHLDS. 



RCHIDS are subject to disease in their leaves, stems, 

 and pseudobulbs, especially dming the damp months 

 of winter. The rot, which is apt to assail the thick 

 fleshy bulbs, is caused by too much moisture in the house. 

 When the heat is low, sometimes the drip from the glass will 

 fall on the crowns of the pseudobulbs, and this soon causes 

 them to rot. Steam is also very injurious in a house during 

 the winter; it is particularly inimical to such plants as 

 Cattleyas, Peristenas, Odontoglossmiis, and any other Orchids 

 that have fleshy bulbs. When the rot attacks the bulbs it 

 should be seen to at once, and may be easily stopped by 

 cutting the diseased part entii-ely away with a sharp knife, no 

 portion of the diseased or decayed bulb being left, and the 

 wound should then be filled up with sulphur, to keep it diy. 

 When the leaves begin to rot, the diseased part should also be 

 cut clean away, and a little sulphur rubbed on the part that is 

 cut, but not in such a manner as to let the sulphui' get to the 

 roots of the plants. 



When any part of the fleshy pseudobulbs of the above- 



