II Sept.. .191 1 •] Passion Fruit Culture. 60 r 



PA88I0X Fill IT CULTURE. 



/. Farrell, OrcJiard Supervisor. 



Owing to the increasing demand for Passion Fruit {Passiflora edulis) 

 the area under passion vines, particularly in the Wandin district, is being 

 considerably increased. There are at present many new blocks of land 

 being prepared for planting, and growers look forward with confidence to 

 the further successful establishment of local and export markets for this 

 fruit. 



The crop was heavy this season and consequently prices were somewhat 

 lower than usual at the commencement. Towards the end of the season, 

 however, they recovered to such an extent that, on the whole, growers 

 obtained a fair average return. 



Preparation of Soil. 



Soil of a deep loo.se chocolate nature is the most suitable. The Wandin 

 district is particularly adapted for passion fruit culture. The plants thrive 

 best on new land, and on elevated positions are less affected by frosts 

 than when grown on low lying ones. After clearing operations have been 

 completed, the land should be ploughed and allowed to remain fallow for 

 one year. The following year, prior to planting out, the soil should be 

 well worked and kept free from weeds. When it is intended to plant on 

 land which has been previously cropped, it is only necessary tha't the soil 

 be kept in a good state of cultivation. 



Raising Young Plants. 



Young plants are raised from seeds which should be saved from fruit 

 which ripen during May or June. These seeds gi\e a higher percentage of 

 germination than those taken from fruit which ripen earlier. They may 

 be sown during September in pots, boxes, or in drills, and covered with 

 I in. of soil. The seeds may be sown thickly; and, when the plants are 

 about 2 in. high, the weaker ones may be thinned out so as to leave a space 

 of about 3 in. between the remaining plants. Growers who determine on 

 extending their blocks rarely find it necessary to sow seed in order to obtain 

 the plants required ; a sufficient number invariably grows amongst the old 

 vines, as a result of the falling of ripe fruit. The seed W(\ should be 

 kept well watered during dry weather. 



Planting Out. 



The young vines are generally planted out when one or two years old. 

 ind usually towards the end of September or early in October, when the 

 frosts have disappeared. 



Post and wire trellises, from 5 ft. to 7 ft. high, are erected to sup- 

 :iort the plants. The posts are made of rough split timber, ranging from 

 f^ in. X 6 in. to 8 in. x 8 in., with four or five wires, ordinary or galvanized. 

 Hid from 8 to 10 gauge. The posts are usually put 3 ft. in the ground. 



The distances of the trellises apart, also the distances between the posts, 

 ire regulated by the method intended to be adopted when planting out. 

 There is a great diversity of opinion among growers as to most suitable 

 •listances between the rows and between the vines in the rows. Those 

 mostly adopted by the Wiindin growers are 12 ft. x 16 ft., 12 ft. x 18 ft.. 

 .>r 12 ft. X. 20 ft. Otluis i)lant 9 ft. x 12 ft. or 9 ft. x 14 ft., but these 

 are too close and flo not admit of sufficient light and air. particularly when 



