Treatment of Nezvly-Impnrted OrcJiids. 143 



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 nour- 

 ishment 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 pro- 

 duce eyes under careful treatment. 



With such plants as Epidendrum, Leila, and Cattleya, the top of the bulb 

 is often dead, but the bottom fresh and in good health. If, after removing 

 the dead or decayed 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 HuntLya for example, have no pseudo-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 

 generally produce a new shoot. Sometimes we receive large masses of 

 plants with large pseudo-bulbs, such as Oncidium, Zy^opetalum, Peristeria, 

 and Odontoglossu?n, 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 should be gradually moistened : and, when 

 the plants begin to grow and make roots, they should be potted, or put on 

 blocks or in baskets ; but care must be taken not to have the pot too large, 

 as overpotting is dangerous. 



As soon as they begin to grow, those which came from the hotter parts 

 of India should be put at the warmest end of the house ; but they should 

 not have too much moisture at first. Those which came from more tem- 

 perate regions should be kept at the coolest part of the house ; care being 

 taken not to allow any drip to fall upon them, which frequently rots the 

 young shoots as soon as they appear. 



Such plants as Vandas, Saecolabiums, y£rides, AfjgrcBCiim, Phaleenopsis, 



