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 Lelia, 
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 
