10 ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



the plant during the dry season, so that the old pseudobulbs, 

 apparently of no use to the inexperienced in Orchid culture, are still a 

 part of the plant and continue for years to render assistance to it. I 

 have, however, invariably found that under artificial cultivation they 

 are of very little use after the fifth year, and when the plants are 

 repotted they may be removed from their position, but not thrown 

 away, for if there are any dormant eyes, they may push into other 

 leading growths. In the case of Oncidiums or Odontoglossums, the 

 old pseudobulbs should remain until they turn yellow and die. In 

 buying plants of Cattleyas, the last fully- developed bulbs should be 

 supported by at least three or four back ones, to give strength and 

 nourishment to the new growth. I have quoted prices as a guide to 

 beginners as to what class of plants to buy, these prices being generally 

 considered to be fair to the buyer and seller ; although, when a large 

 importation of plants arrive in good condition, they may sometimes be 

 purchased from the importer or at auction sales at a lower price. 



DENDBOBIUMS. 



In buying such useful and beautiful species of Dendrobiums as 

 nobile, Wardianum, and others, prices vary as in Cattleyas, and are 

 ruled by the quantity of plants coming forward. D. nobile is one of 

 the oldest species, and yet one of the very best and easiest grown. It 

 is, however, advisable to buy established plants, as it is always cheap, 

 and blooms are formed on the previous year's growth. It often 

 happens that the old growths on imported plants become injured to 

 some extent in transit, which prevents their flowering well, and two 

 years will elapse before much bloom can be expected. Nearly all 

 other Dendrobiums, which are not garden hybrids, may be purchased 

 either newly imported or as established plants; but in the case of 

 D. Wardianum, D. crassinode, D. Devonianum, and D. formosum 

 giganteum, it is decidedly advantageous to buy strong newly imported 

 or semi-established plants, carefully selecting those in a fine healthy 

 condition. Fig. 5 represents an established plant in a 5-inch pot of 

 D. nobile having four leads, 5s. being a fair value of such a plant. 

 Fig. 6 represents an imported plant of D. Wardianum with two leads, 

 and should be bought for 4s. In buying Dendrobiums, they should 

 have two or three pseudobulbs disconnected at the rhizome in addition 

 to the last made pseudobulb, counting as one leading growth. 

 Dendrobiums do not really depend upon the old pseudobulbs from 

 which to draw nourishment so much as some Orchids; they may 

 therefore be cut away from the base of the plant, if it is advisable to 

 propagate and increase the variety (see Notes on Propagation, page 41), 

 leaving about four old pseudobulbs to support each forthcoming 

 growth. 



