iSyi.] PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS. 71 



the Patagonian slopes, where there is much frost and snow, but also one 

 of the heaviest rainfalls in the world. This Japan climate, however, has 

 its disadvantages when the winds are so uncertain. In the north and 

 east coasts the precipitation falls more in the shape of snow, which 

 protects herbaceous vegetation from the effects of frost, and much 

 severer frost than without snow. The Cornish Broccoli-grower would be 

 puzzled to protect acres of Greens when the north winds come down on him. 

 In case of war with America, the Yankees very wickedly threaten to 

 dam up the Gulf of ]\Iexico, and starve us out by stopping the Gulf 

 Stream ; but they could not stop the winds, and even the stream itself 

 might come in bigger volume by some other way. Out-door Grapes 

 have been plentiful on the south coast the past season, but with con- 

 siderable mildew. Our next-door neighbour is never without plenty 

 of English Grape-wine, but is utterly oblivious of all the literary mys- 

 teries on the growth of the Vine and the making of wine. If our 

 memory is not at fault, we have seen an old Vine which occasionally 

 bears crops of black Grapes out of doors at Garscube on the Clyde, 

 which speaks much for the mildness of the climate of St Mungo. None 

 will more readily admit the importance of the winds on the climate of 

 this country than those who have to contend with the sea-blast in rear- 

 ing plantations : the plants which will flourish almost on the top of a 

 cliff on the south coast, say at Bournemouth, would not exist on the 

 Northumbrian coast. Shelter is the one thing needful in such circum- 

 stances. In the whole range of sea-coast plants, nothing at all comes 

 near the Sea Buckthorn for shelter : it is a real breakwater for any sea- 

 coast wind. If we ever had anything to do with sea-coast planting, 

 we should throw up a breastwork of that sturdy plant, which in a few 

 years would become dense enough to shelter anything inside it, pro- 

 vided the situation were not absolutely a hillside. After a practical 

 knowledge of his profession, the next most important study for the 

 young gardener is meteorology. The minds of the great majority, how- 

 ever, are not alive to this fact. Indeed, to be called weather-wise is gener- 

 ally but a doubtful compliment. We venture to say there is no 

 more fascinating study, and none more calculated to entertain the mind 

 and excite its wonder. The Squire's Gardener. 



PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS. 



This plant is not surpassed by the Vine for fruitfulness under 

 ordinarily favourable conditions ; and it is a mistake to suppose that 

 it will not set its fruit without being impregnated with pollen from 

 P. edulis, as has been asserted on several occasions by some writers. 



