August  29,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
20711 
tell  but  that  in  three  weeks  more  my  little  Vines  in  the  S-iuch  pots  may 
come  into  favour  1  At  any  rate,  it  is  ^[ratifying  and  encouraging  to  find 
that  he  is  moving  in  that  direction. — W.  Innes,  Derby, 
[We  suspect  that  if  the  two  Messrs.  Thomson,  Mr.  Innes,  and  “A 
Grape  Grower,”  had  the  choice  of  a  number  of  Vines  for  planting  there 
would  be  little  difference  between  them  in  their  preferences.  They  all 
know  very  well  that  a  comparatively  small  short-jointed  cane  with  an 
abundance  of  fibrous  roots  is  better  for  planting  than  is  a  luxuriant 
looking  but  plethoric  cane  with  comparatively  few  fibrous  roots. 
Choosing  the  strongest  Vines  obtainable,  regardless  of  the  condition  of 
the  roots,  shaking  them  out,  planting  and  leaving  the  canes  their  full 
length  is  a  custom  that  has  led  to  many  failures  in  Grape  growing.  The 
gist  of  this  discussion  is  that  the  root  force  must  preponderate  over  the 
cane  area  in  choosing  Vines  for  planting,  and  if  that  truth  is  more 
firmly  established  our  correspondents  will  have  done  great  good  in  this 
instructive  controversy.] 
CODONOPSIS  CLEMATIDEA. 
The  genus  Codonopsis  is  included  in  the  Campanula  family,  and 
several  of  its  members  are  very  suggestive  of  the  medium-sized  Bell- 
FIG.  30.— CODOXOPSIS  CLEMATIDEA. 
flowers  of  erect  habit.  The  climbing  annual  Codonopsis,  C.  rotundi- 
folia,  is  perhaps  the  best  known  together  with  its  beautiful  variety 
grandiflora,  the  yellowish  flowers  being  veined  with  dark  purple. 
C.  clematidea  (fig.  30)  is  not  too  frequently  seen,  however,  although  it 
is  an  attractive  plant  of  considerable  merit  as  a  hardy  perennial.  It  is 
a  native  of  elevated  regions  in  Asia,  and  produces  its  neat  bell-shaped 
pale  blue  flowers  at  the  points  of  the  slender  stems,  which  rise  to  the 
height  of  2  or  3  feet.  The  flowers  have  a  charming  appearance  when 
cut  and  arranged  with  other  flowers  or  foliage  in  vases. 
RIPENED  WOOD. 
1am  glad  to  see  our  friend  “The  Sceptic”  on  his  favourite  topio 
again — viz.,  ripened  wood  (page  174),  and  he  has  evidently  got  some 
ground  for  his  remarks. 
Tour  correspondent  who  signs  himself  “  Another  D.”  tries  to  prove 
that  the  wood  of  1894  could  not  be  sappy  because  the  moisture  in  the 
soil  was  only  restored  to  its  equilibrium  by  the  rains  of  the  same  year. 
I  have  always  been  under  the  impression  that  it  was  not  the  question  of 
how  much  water  the  soil  contained  which  determined  whether  the 
wood  will  ripen,  but  to  the  amount  of  sunshine  consistent  with  a  good 
supply  of  water  at  their  roots,  so  that  plenty  of  food  material  could  be 
formed  for  the  future  use  of  the  trees. 
Experience  shows  us  clearly  that  trees  in  a  dry  soil  during  a  hot 
sunny  year  like  1893  were  worse  off  than  those  of  1894,  which  had  more 
water  and  less  sun,  for  the  food  material  cannot  be  formed  unless  there 
be  a  sufficient  supply  of  moisture  in  the  soil,  neither  can  it  if  there  is  not 
enough  sunshine.  We  do  not  want  our  wood  baked  like  it  was  in  1893, 
for  this  is  no  proof  that  our  crops  will  be  at  all  favourable,  but  rather 
plenty  of  sun  with  a  good  supply  of  rain,  and  then  the  leaves  of  trees 
can  do  their  work  with  greater  advantage  to  themselves  and  to  their 
future  crop. 
Re  ripened  wood.  Take  for  instance  the  growth  of  the  Grape  Vine. 
After  the  laterals  are  stopped  they  soon  send  out  sub-laterals,  which  in 
some  cases  have  one  or  two  embryonic  bunches  of  Grapes  on  them.  If 
these  be  left  to  grow  they  will  be  equally  as  good  as  those  bunches  left 
in  the  first  instance.  They  are  not  produced  on  ripened  wood,  but  that 
of  the  current  year,  which  is  green  and  sappy. 
We  do  not  let  our  Cucumber  plants  get  hard  and  woody  if  they  are 
to  produce  good  crops,  but  rather  keep  them  vigorous  and  growing. 
Neither  must  Tomato  seed  be  saved  from  ripe  fruit  to  produce  good 
plants,  the  green  ones  being  equally  as  good. — W.  D.,  Tihrnford,  Herts. 
HORTICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
KINGSWOOD. — August  21st. 
Although  only  established  five  years  ago  the  Kingswood  and  West 
Gloucestershire  Society  has  rapidly  attained  to  first  rank,  and  what  is 
equally  satisfactory  promises  to  maintain  its  present  position.  It  was 
thought  that  not  far  short  of  13,000  visitors  passed  through  the  gates, 
and  this  naturally  meant  a  considerable  crush  in  the  various  tents  pro¬ 
vided  for  the  display  of  plants,  cut  flowers,  fruit,  and  vegetables.  Messrs. 
F.  H.  Julliou  and  A.  W.  Cottle  are  the  Honorary  Secretaries,  and  these 
gentlemen,  well  backed  by  numerous  influential  residents  of  Kingswood 
and  district,  leave  nothing  to  be  desired  as  regards  arrangements 
generally. 
The  most  valuable  priz'^s  were  offered  in  the  class  for  eighteen  plants, 
six  to  be  fine-foliaged  and  twelve  flowering,  and  in  this  instance  Mr. 
J.  Cypher,  Cheltenham,  made  an  admirable  display  in  his  well-known 
style,  and  was  first ;  the  second  prize  going  to  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Leamington, 
who  also  had  several  good  plants.  The  next  classes  in  point  of  import¬ 
ance  were  those  for  six  flowering  plants  and  six  Ferns,  the  first  prize  in 
each  instance  being  a  silver  cup,  value  5  guineas.  In  the  former  Mr. 
W.  Rye,  gardener  to  Captain  Belfield,  Frenchay,  was  first,  having  fresh, 
beautifully  flowered  specimens  of  Bougainvillea  glabra,  Allamanda 
nobilis,  Clerodendron  Balfourianum,  Stephanotis  floribunda,  and  fairly 
good  plants  of  Statice  profusa  and  Ixora  regina.  Mr.  T.  Wilkins, 
gardener  to  Lady  Guest,  Inwood,  Henstridge,  was  a  very  close  second, 
Clerodendron  Balfourianum  and  Erica  Aitoniana  being  his  best.  In 
the  Fern  classes  Mr.  T.  Wilkins  succeeded  in  winning  the  cup  with 
grand  plants  of  Asplenium  nidus  avia,  Nephrolepis  davallioides, 
Davallia  fijiensis  plumosa,  Nephrolepis  rufescens  tripinnatifida, 
Adiantum  cuneatum,  and  Davallia  Mooreana.  In  Mr.  Rye’s  second 
prize  collection  were  very  fine  specimens  of  Todeas. 
Fine-foliaged  plants  were  well  shown  by  private  growers,  and  with 
six  of  these  Mr.  W.  Rye  was  first,  showing  large  healthy  specimens  of 
Areca  lutescens,  Latania  borbonica,  Cycas  revoluta,  and  Crotons 
Warreni,  Youngi,  and  Victoria.  Mr.  E.  W.  Towell,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
Gale  Coles,  was  a  creditable  second.  In  another  good  class  for  Ferns 
Mr.  Rye  was  first,  and  Mr.  W.  Coombs,  gardener  to  J.  W.  Langdon, 
Esq.,  second,  both  showing  fine  specimens.  Fuchsias  as  a  whole 
were  fairly  good.  Mr.  W.  Marsh,  Bath,  was  easily  first  for  six 
specimens,  these  consisting  of  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Hay,  Lye’s  Favourite, 
Annie  Earle,  Harriet  Lye,  Elegance,  and  Scarcity.  Mr.  T.  Haskins 
was  second,  and  other  prizewinners  with  Fuchsias  were  Mr.  John 
Newman  and  Mr.  J.  Haskins.  Zonal  Pelargoniums  were  well  shown, 
and  with  these  the  most  successful  exhibitors  were  Mr.  L.  Bryant, 
gardener  to  Dr.  H.  Grace,  Kingswood ;  Mr.  Towell,  and  Mr.  Coombs. 
Several  classes  were  provided  for  Tuberous  Begonias,  and  a  grand 
display  was  made.  With  these  the  principal  prizewinners  were  Messrs. 
J.  Rogers,  W.  Coombs,  and  W.  Rogers,  all  local  growers.  Gloxinias  are 
not  often  seen  in  better  condition,  especially  those  shown  by  Messrs. 
W.  Rye  and  F.  Golding,  gardener  to  E.  A.  Jones,  Esq.  Some  well- 
grown  specimens  of  Coleus  gained  a  first  prize  for  Mr,  J.  Haynes, 
gardener  to  H.  Croot,  Esq ,  the  second  prize  going  to  Mr.  L.  Bryant. 
Liberal  prizes  were  offered  for  groups  arranged  for  effect,  but  these 
only  attracted  two  entries.  Mr.  Robert  Palmer  was  easily  first,  though 
his  arrangement  gave  evidence  of  an  overabundance  of  choice  plants 
being  available,  Mr.  E.  Hall,  Bath,  was  second. 
Cut  flowers  were  numerously  and  in  many  cases  grandly  shown. 
