144 



NAT. ORDER. PASSIFLORE^. 



character but little known to tlie inhabitants of this country ; hence 

 their history would be of but little interest. 



Projmgallon and Culture. All the species of this elegant and 

 curious genus are well suited for climbers in conservatories and 

 stoves, being free growers and of easy culture. They thrive well 

 in very light, rich soil, and the more room they are allowed, both for 

 roots and for stems, the freer they will grow and (lower. They are 

 all easily raised from cuttings planted in sand or mould, placed in 

 heat, and the younger the cuttings are the sooner they will strike 

 root. Mo,st of the species ripen fruit in our stoves, and consequently 

 many fine varieties have been raised by impregnating the stigmas 

 of one witli the polen of another. Several hybrids, raised from the 

 seeds set by the polen of Passijlora cocrulca, are nearly hardy ; and 

 in fact, this is the only species that can be considered quite hardy, 

 and this requires a sheltered situation. It is therefore safest to 

 plant against a wall, that it may be protected by a mat in severe 

 weather. It thrives well in any soil, and cuttings of it are readily 

 rooted under a hand-glass. 



Culture of the Edible Species of Granadllla. All the species will 

 fruit even in large pots, but it is best to plant thetn in an angle of a 

 stove, which has been parted off either by boards or brick- work, as 

 low as the pit goes. At the bottom of the cavity formed by this 

 division should be laid some brick rubbish, over which may be 

 thrown a little dead tan, and the whole be then filled with equal 

 parts of very old tan, and a compost of leaf-mould and rotten vegeta- 

 ble compost — therein the roots will strike freely, and will even 

 spread through the partition into tiie pit. They do not require the 

 full heat of the stove, for they flourish best in a temperature of from 

 65*"" to IQ^ ; but they will not bring their fruit to perfection if kept 

 in a common green-house or conservatory, though they will grow 

 and flower in it. The shoots, as they advance, may be trained near 

 to, and under the inclined glass of the stove. The first flowers will 

 appear in May, and the blooming will continue until September, (he 



