THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 329 



The soil for the Balsam can hardly be too rich ; it should consist 

 of about two parts nice friable turfy loam, and one of two-year-old 

 cow-dung, with a sprinkling of eharp sand, well incorporated with 

 it before using. 



PASSIELORA KERMESINA. 



fLTHOUGH Passion flowers cultivated in pots and trained 

 on trellises cannot be managed so as to exhibit the 

 graceful elegance for which the genus is so much 

 admired, when grown under more natural circumstances, 

 yet some of the delicate varieties, and this one more 

 especially, may be easily trained so as to induce them to assume a 

 very pleasing appearance. This species is, moreover, a very free 

 bloomer in a small state, producing a profusion of blossoms which, 

 for brilliancy of colour, are hardly surpassed by any of the more 

 robust growers. It is thus very suitable for those whose accommo- 

 dation is limited. If healthy young plants in six-inch pots are pro- 

 cured at once, placed in a moist growing temperature, and kept 

 growing during the preseut autumn, till they have become well- 

 established in eight-inch pots, they will form good-sized flowering 

 specimens during the coming season. As early in autumn as the 

 plants shall have filled their pots with roots, and made a moderate 

 growth, remove them to a light, airy situation, where the night 

 temperature may average from 45° to 50°, and supply water to the 

 soil sparingly, in order to get the wood well ripened. As soon as 

 this is effected, cut back the shoots rather closely, and after this, 

 until it is wanted to start them into growth, give no more water at 

 the root than will suffice to prevent the soil from becoming powdery 

 dry, and during this period the plants will be perfectly safe in a 

 warm part of the greenhouse. 



Early in February, or as soon after as convenient, remove them 



to a light part of a pit or house, where a nice growing temperature is 



maintained ; and if a gentle bottom-heat is at command, this will 



greatly assist in starting them into vigorous growth without loss of 



time. Give sufficient water to the soil to bring it into a moist 



healthy condition, and sprinkle the plants overhead frequently, to 



induce them to break close and freely. "When the roots get into 



an active state, it will be necessary to give a shift, and see that this 



is done as soon as it is required, otherwise weakly growth will be 



the result of allowing them to remain in small pots in bottom-heat. 



titop any shoot that may take any decided lead of the others, and 



continue this practice until the specimen is well furnished with 



healthy shoots of about equal strength, after which the trellis 



should be applied, and the shoots kept regularly tied up until it is 



nicely covered, after which the ends of the shoots may be allowed 



to hang down loosely. A vigorous-growing young Larch plant, with 



branches left on, makes a very suitable support, but where proper 



^ire frames can be procured, these have a neater appearance, and 



August. j 



