34 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



All useless parts removed should be taken out of the 

 house and burnt. It is a common practice to throw the 

 leaves under the stage. No rubbish of this, or any other 

 kind, should be allowed in the Orchid house, as it forms a 

 harbour for insects and is, in other respects, objectionable. 



CHAPTER VII 

 PROPAGATION BY DIVISION 



IT used to be thought a very delicate operation to divide 

 an Orchid, or to remove any portion of it for the purpose of 

 obtaining another specimen, and, when the operation was 

 carried out, it was thought to be at the risk of the plant and 

 its offset. 



In the case of badly grown plants, or where the houses 

 are unsuitable for growing Orchids successfully, there may 

 still be considerable risk in the process ; but under ordi- 

 nary conditions, and where the plants have proper accom- 

 modation, there is no risk whatever ; it may be said that 

 plants are never in better health than when they are divided 

 at reasonable intervals. If we consider the case of Cypripe- 

 dium insigne Sanderce, some of the white Cattleyas, and many 

 other Orchids which were imported only as single specimens 

 originally but which are now well represented in gardens, 

 the advantage of dividing the plants is readily seen. 



Pseudo-bulbous Orchids with progressive rhizomes, 

 such as Cattleyas, Laelias, Oncidiums, and Odontoglossums, 

 should be divided by severing the rhizomes, retaining two 



