TREATMENT OF IMPORTED ORCHIDS. 49 



In separating large masses of bulbs, three or four 

 pseudo-bulbs at least should be given to each new plant, 

 the newest of which will always have the eye for the new 

 growth. These old bulbs are necessary for the nourish- 

 ment of the new growth, and from them we may often 

 cause eyes to break forth and thus form a fine specimen. 



Even if a pseudo-bulb appears dead, and if the roots 

 are all gone, if it is at all green and without decay, it 

 should not be cast aside, for it may produce eyes under 

 careful treatment. 



With such plants as Epidendrums, Lelias, and Cattleyas, 

 the top of the bulb is often dead, but the bottom fresh 

 and in good health. If after removing the dead or de- 

 cayed portions we can save even a small part of the bulb, 

 we need not despair of the formation of a new plant. 



Some Orchids, as Huntleya for example, have no pseu- 

 do-bulbs ; if the leaves of such have fallen off during the 

 voyage, the crown with living roots attached must be 

 carefully preserved ; even if it appears dead it will gen- 

 erally produce a new shoot. 



Sometimes we receive large masses of plants with large 

 pseudo-bulbs, such as Onddium, Zygopetalum, Peristeria, 

 and Odontoglossum, where the whole lower part of the 

 bulbs is decayed ; in such cases all the rotten or diseased 

 portions should be cut away and the plants placed in the 

 Orchid house either on a shelf or potted. Smaller bulbs 

 will not unfrequently form on the top of the old bulbs, 

 throw out roots, and derive nourishment from the rest of 

 the bulb, and in time make good plants. 



When the plants are thus all clean, they should be laid 

 in dry moss or sand in a rather cool and dry part of the 

 house and shaded as we have said. The moss or sand 

 4 



