REMOVING USELESS LEAVES 31 



label, either for numbers or names, or both, is the white 

 celluloid label, obtainable in all sizes, similar to the ordinary 

 wooden plant label, and in the ticket form for attaching to 

 the baskets by means of fine wire. This kind of label $oes 

 not decay as the wood labels, and it may be cleaned and 

 used again as long as it remains in a perfect condition. Let 

 all labels be made as small as possible consistent with their 

 being firmly fixed, as it detracts much from the appearance 

 of a house of plants if the labels are too much in evidence. 

 Care must be taken during repotting that the labels removed 

 from the plants should each be returned to its proper 

 specimen. Much trouble may be caused by mixing the 

 labels. 



CHAPTER VI 

 REMOVING USELESS LEAVES AND BULBS 



AN unsightly appearance is given to many collections of 

 Orchids by the presence on some of the plants of a number 

 of damaged or yellow leaves. These are often supposed 

 to be the result of bad cultivation, and, in some cases, rightly 

 so. But in all collections of Orchids the old leaves, even 

 of the evergreen species, do not pass off naturally as they 

 do in their native habitats, where they have the natural 

 seasons with their climatic changes to cause the leaves to 

 fall naturally. When cultivated under glass, the species 

 which are known as evergreen kinds retain their old leaves 

 long after they would have passed away in their native 

 wilds ; and not only that, but they decline and become 



