December 20, 1883 . ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
529 
moment they are started,” he is writing of something unknown to 
physiologist^. “ Non-Believer is very anxious for me to answer his 
question “Why does a Vine bleed, and why does it stop when deprived 
of its roots ? ” Now, although the first part of this question does not 
come within the range of my observation of facts, and is a purely 
theoretical one which has been discussed by learned physiologists for 
ages, I have no hesitation in giving what information I possess on the 
matter, but it must be accepted only as theory. The latter part of the 
vvrh S ^ n ma y answ ered by another question equally profound—namely, 
Why does a fountain cease to play when turned off at the main ? In the 
chapter on root-pressure in Prantl’s “Text Book of Botany,” second 
■English edition, p. 85, he says “ It is an old observation that Vines when 
•pruned bleed as it is called in the spring—that is, that water escapes 
from the cut surfaces. Closer investigation has shown that this water 
■exudes from the opening of the large vessels.This water is 
absorbed from the soil and forced up into the plant by the roots, often 
with a force capable of supporting a column of mercury of considerable 
height. . . . This movement of water, effected by the root-pres¬ 
sure, is particularly conspicuous in the spring, and generally at the 
period of the most vigorous growth.” The author then goes on to “ show 
that there are three distinct modes in which water moves in the living 
plant. Of these two are effected by a sort of suction proceeding from 
the spot where the water is being used—namely, ( a ) the slow movement 
-of the water in the processes of growth, and (b) the passage of water 
through the. wood to compensate for the loss by transpiration. The third 
motion (c) is caused by pressure from the roots upwards independently 
of any consumption.” The last-mentioned motion is the one with which 
we are just now concerned, and Prantl’s theory of it agrees with what 
has been guessed at by several practical gardeners, and recorded within 
the last few years in this Journal—namely, that little or no harm happens 
from the bleeding of a healthy Vine, as there is little or nothing besides 
water exuded, and there is, or ought to be, always an ample supply at 
the command of the plant to replace that which is so lost. 
The passage quoted by your correspondent from “Elements of Agri¬ 
cultural Chemistry,” to the effect that “ the sap, except when frozen, is 
supposed to be rarely quite stationary,” in no way affects my argument, 
for there is a continual absorption of water going on by one or more of 
processes enumerated, and a movement of water through the plant’s 
system means a movement of something else as well; for, as Dr. Masters 
says (“ Plant Life,” page 6), “ The water from the outside has to pass 
through the membrane to reach the protoplasm on the other side. Speaking 
broadly, there are no holes in the membrane through which the water 
■can pass. Ingress is secured by that process of d.ffusion [osmosis] to 
which reference has just been made, and by virtue of which the mole¬ 
cules of the membrane and the molecules of the water shift and change 
places ; the space that was occupied by a molecule of membrane is 
now occupied by a molecule of water, and vice versa." 
The word “sap ” is not much used by modern authors, and has scarcely 
now any definite meaning. The changes continually going on in the 
interior of the plant are better expressed by the author last quoted at 
,page 11—“ Cell membrane, the protoplasm, the entire mass of liquid and 
•solid constituents of which the plants consist, are, as we have seen, made 
up of molecules, each, as it were, with a life of its own undergoing con¬ 
tinual changes according to different circumstances, acting and reacting 
one upon another so long as any active life remains. Active life, indeed, 
is ceaseless change, dormant life is a condition of equilibrium more often 
valked about than realised ; in fact, it is merely relative, it implies 
merely a lessened degree of activity.”— Wm. Taylor. 
A controversy upon any matter connected with the Grape Vine 
never fails to attract much attention, and that now being spiritedly 
•conducted by Mr. Taylor and his non-believing critic is especially in¬ 
teresting. These discussions elicit many instructive facts, and the 
principal actors may rest assured that they are neither wasting valu¬ 
able space nor wearying their readers. There are but few qualified 
to take an active part in this discussion; but unless I am much mistaken, 
the majority argue out the matter among themselves whenever the 
opportunity presents itself. I have had several arguments on the 
subject, and at the risk of “ getting out of my depth ” shall also attempt 
to interpose a few remarks. 
From the first I maintained that Mr. Taylor’s theory with regard to 
the root-action and its effects upon the young shoots was not the right 
one, and this “ Credo,” in his praiseworthy endeavour to clear the 
ground, very plainly demonstrates. We often read that, apparently to 
the surprise of the writer, it is nothing better than water that comes 
from Vines that are bleeding most profusely, but what more can he 
■expected 1 It is quite certain that such great quantities as a Vine will 
discharge cannot have been stored in the stems and roots of the Vines; 
and it is equally evident they cannot with their root hairs, or by what¬ 
ever means they imbibe moisture, take up anything but nearly clear 
water. At any rate, I should not expect the moisture that filters through 
such minute openings to be either discoloured, thick, or strongly im¬ 
pregnated, or even perceptibly affected in its taste, by the various soluble 
constituents of the border. It was my argument that the young shoots, 
leaves, and bunches are first formed and started by the stored-up sap, 
(^this being soon exhausted), and that the leaves begin to change colour 
as soon as they are able to elaborate the crude sap, thereby preparing 
food for themselves, the changed character of the sap in the “ return 
pipes ” being also the cause of root-action. This idea may be at variance 
with the teachings of our great authorities, but it is my belief “ big 
.guns” as well as “small fry” are apt to accept only such evidence as 
supports their pet theories, treating other equally forcible facts tending 
to an opposite direction as irrelevant matter.—W. Iggulden. 
[Samples of the Vines mentioned on page 512 of last issue have been 
submitted to a competent microscopist, and he sends us the following 
letter in reference to the matter :— 
“ I have examined the Vine stem as desired, and find the whole of the 
parenchymatous tissue of the stem, excepting only the pith, to be densely 
packed with starch grains and other reserve food material. The swollen 
tumid portion at the node around the bud proper consists almost solely 
of somewhat thick soft-walled cells full of oval starch grains, forming 
altogether as evident a reservoir of food material intended for future use 
by the plant as the tuber of a Potato. This starch has of course been 
elaborated during the summer by the activity of the chlorophyll; briefly, 
by the process known as assimilation, the transference and re-constitu¬ 
tion of the starch granules where we now find them having been brought 
about by metastasis.”] 
We are informed that the Veitch Memorial Prizes for 1884 will 
consist of three bronze medals and £5 in money, to be offered at Dundee, 
and similar medals and money prizes at one of the Royal Botanic 
Society’s shows. Three others of the same value will be also offered 
at shows held by some of the fl wrists’ societies. 
- As would be seen from the advertisement in last week’s 
Journal, the following are the dates of the meetings of the Scientific) 
Fruit, and Floral Committees of the Royal Horticultural Society 
for 1884. Scientific Committee. —January 8th ; February 12th ; March 
11th and 25th ; April 8th and 22nd ; May 13th and 27th; June 10th 
and 24th ; July 8th and 22nd ; November 11th, and December 9th. 
Fruit and Floral Committees. —January 8th ; February 12th ; March 
11th and 25th; April 8th and 22nd; May 13th and 27th; June 10th 
and 24th ; July 8th and 22nd ; August 12th and 26th ; September 9th ; 
October 14th ; November 11th, and December 9th. 
- Three pretty Orchids were certificated at Kensington last 
week — namely, Cypripedium Schroderas, C. CARdinale, and 
C. calurum, all hybrids, in which C. Sedeni, itself a hybrid between 
C. Schlimii and C. longifolium, had been one of the parents. The 
most distinct of the group was C. Schroder® (C. Sedeni and C. cau- 
datum), as the characters of the latter species predominate, but in 
the others the globular lip and rich rosy colour derived from C. Sedeni 
indicate at once the family relationship. Both C. cardinale and C. calu¬ 
rum are beautiful Orchids, but the first is simply charming, the neatness 
of the flowers in form, together with the striking contrast of a deep rose 
lip and white sepals and petals, render it unique. In this case C. Sedeni 
was crossed with C. Schlimi album, a curious example of intercrossing ; 
indeed, the readiness with which the forms of this section of the genus 
Cypripedium hybridise is gradually giving rise to a distinct and handsome 
group, notable alike for floriferousness and vigour of habit. 
- A plant was shown by Mr. King at the same meeting that well 
deserved notice, but which the Floral Committee passed unrecognised. 
This was the Zonal Pelargonum Roesham Model, a variety of great 
merit with exceedingly symmetrical flowers, broad rounded petals of an 
intensely bright scarlet colour. They are borne in bold trusses, and the 
general habit of the plant is compact and strong, and altogether the 
variety is one of the finest of the type that we have seen. 
- “ Cymro ” writes thus respecting Calanthe Veitchii :— 
“ Allusion has recently been made to the superiority of the straight 
pseudo-bulb form of the above over the compressed form. But are 
the straight forms always best ? I am inclined to answer in the 
negative, for we have here at present several plants of both forms, 
grown under similar conditions, bearing spikes of flowers of average 
quality without the slightest distinction in colour. I have previously 
seen, as Mr. Thomson describes, the straight form much the best; but 
I am doubtful whether it can be relied on as a guide to purchasers, 
to whom the matter may be important.” 
-A double scarlet Bouvardia named Thomas Meehan 
