48 ORCHIDS. 



The living roots of Orchids are green within ; as soon 

 as they die they become soft, and the thread (so to speak) 

 running through the middle grows hard and woody thus 

 it is easy to tell what portions should be removed. Any 

 roots entirely dead should be cut off close to the base of 

 the pseudo-bulbs. 



Where the plants are very large, they may often be 

 divided to advantage, but it is not best to attempt this be- 

 fore they show signs of growth. Should the plants, how- 

 ever, be so large as to be unmanageable and the future 

 eyes be developed, it may be well to divide into as many 

 plants as there are eyes. This, however, will be seldom 

 done by the amateur, for it is his object to have large and 

 fine specimens, but must be resorted to by florists who 

 wish a stock for sale. The plants obtained from florists 

 are generally so small that a growth of a dozen years is 

 necessary to make a specimen, and the flower of a small 

 plant gives but little idea of the magnificent effect pro- 

 duced by a specimen. 



It not unfrequently happens that the upper part of a 

 pseudo-bulb is decayed while the lower is sound and 

 has healthy eyes at the base. In this case the diseased 

 portions may be cut away without injury to the plant, and 

 frequently the shoots developed from a plant thus treated 

 are stronger and more healthy than those from sound 

 bulbs. 



It is not necessary that the pseudo-bulbs should have 

 leaves ; these are frequently lost in importation, and if 

 the bulb is ripe, the health of the plant or its power to 

 produce eyes are not visibly affected ; all bulbs, however, 

 which are alive and sound should be preserved, as they 

 are most necessary to the plant. 



