426 Canadian Record of Science. 



40. The Woodbine or Five-Fingered Ivy. Ampelopsis 

 quinquefolia. 



This species grew freely among the thorn bushes and was 

 used as a climbing plant as it generally is in Canada, with 

 good effect. I owe to the kindness of my friend, the late 

 Prof. Gray, some seedlings of the beautiful Japan species, 

 A. veichii. This I have found too tender to grow in rich 

 soil or in shady or exposed places, but in the dry soil and 

 sunny exposures of the front of the college buildings it has 

 held its own, though more or less killed back in winter, for 

 about ten years. It is too tender for our climate, except in 

 the most favourable soils and exposures. 



41. The Staff-tree. Celastrus scandens. 



This fine climber was abundant in the thorn thickets, and 

 often bore quantities of its brilliant and permanent scarlet 

 and orange fruit. It is now, however, confined to a single 

 specimen trained over the front porch of the east wing, 

 where it has continued unimpaired for the last twenty-five 

 years, and puts forth is shoots and blossoms vigorously 

 every spring, though it does not fruit. It is very well suited 

 for this purpose, and I am surprised that it is not more 

 frequently cultivated as an ornamental climber. When 

 trained artificially, however, it often fails to fruit. It is not 

 only a very beautiful climber, but has the merit of escaping 

 the attacks of the minute insects so destructive to vines. I 

 used to boast that it is altogether exempt from insect 

 ravages ; but only last spring I found some of the slender 

 young shoots covered with the common black Aphis. It is 

 an interesting example of the almost instinctive attraction 

 of some climbing plants to supporting bodies. Its long red 

 roots pass for a considerable distance underground, and when- 

 ever they come near to a post or tree stem, send up young 

 plants though they may show no tendency to this elsewhere. 



42. The Frost Grape. Vitis cordifolia. 



This grew abundantly among the thorn bushes, often 



