32 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



unsightly for years under glass, instead of passing away in 

 a few months. Consequently many Orchids in collections 

 often carry at least twice as many leaves as they ought 

 to do, and the oldest are the most unsightly. A ready 

 example of this kind is given by most collections of Mas- 

 devallias. The leaves are usually densely packed, many 

 of the older ones shabby, and not only unsightly in them- 

 selves, but interfering with the full development of the 

 new growths. 



Masdevallias have no developed pseudo-bulbs, but a 

 joint will be seen where the leaf-blades join the basal 

 stems ; all damaged leaves should be cut off just above that 

 joint, and it will be found that some of the plants will 

 be benefited, both in appearance and condition, by having 

 from one-third to one-half the number of their old and 

 damaged leaves removed. The same remarks apply to all 

 Orchids of similar growth, such as Pleurothallis and Octo- 

 merias, and indeed to the species generally, for damaged 

 or decaying leaves can be of no assistance in the develop- 

 ment of the plant, unless in exceptional cases where the 

 grower must use his own discretion. 



USELESS PSEUDO-BULBS 



If an imported Orchid such as a Cattleya or Laelia, 

 which has been cultivated under glass for several years and 

 has many pseudo-bulbs, be turned out of the pot and the 

 roots freed from the potting material, it will be seen that 

 the new roots which nourish the plant are confined to 

 the freshest pseudo-bulbs, and that the roots beneath the 

 older pseudo-bulbs are in such a condition that they are 



