Sparrow, the gardener at Bodelwyddan, soon produced young 
plants. 
In growth, the species resembles a cucumber, with leaves 
ten or twelve inches across, and varying in form from heart- 
shaped to 8 or 5 lobed. The flowers are white, and beauti- 
fully cut into delicate threads, whence the botanical name 
Trichosanthes, which Sir James Smith translated Hairblossom. 
The fruits, which hang down from the rafter to which the 
vines of the plant are trained, resemble serpents, are six feet 
long, and when unripe, are singularly striped with green and 
white, which changes to brilliant orange. 
We already possess in our gardens an allied species, from 
the East Indies, called the Snake Cucumber, which differs 
in having smaller flowers, hispid coarsely toothed leaves and 
fruit, which is scarcely half the length of this, and is there- 
fore much less remarkable in appearance. 
From Mr. Sparrow we have received the following account 
of his mode of cultivating this plant: 
‘I sowed the seeds last June in a small pot, and placed 
them in the Pine-stove, where they vegetated in about a 
week ; and after the plant had attained the height of eighteen 
inches, I planted one in the pit of the plant-stove, in a com- 
post consisting of two-thirds bog and loam in equal portions, 
to one-third leaf-mould and sand, where it grew finely, and 
ripened the first fruit about the middle of November. 
“I may mention, that the pit in which I planted it is 
heated underneath with hot water pipes.” | 
Fig. 1 represents a cluster of male flowers; 2 a seed. 
