IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



previously named, may be grown in any place from which 

 frost is excluded. It is a strong grower, and will need much 

 reduction of its growths at this time where these (as they 

 should do) hang from the glass roof ; but this pruning 

 should be gradually done, leaving the stronger shoots and 

 those which are well placed to cover the roof during the 

 following summer. All the passion flowers prefer a free 

 root run, and should be planted in a border at least i foot 

 wide, giving them a compost of three parts good loam to 

 one of peat and one of leaf -mould ; and they may be put in 

 either in the autumn (with moderate warmth) or in March, 

 where the frost is barely excluded. Where that terrible 

 pest, mealy bug, is present, it is not advisable to plant passion 

 flowers, for these insects immediately infest them, and are 

 almost impossible to eradicate, as they hide in the bracts at 

 the axils of the leaves, and multiply themselves rapidly there. 

 For a cool greenhouse which is not too sunny, the lovely 

 pink bells of Lapageria rosea are very suitable ; the white 

 variety, L. alba, too, is charming. These plants will 

 survive the winter in the open air in sheltered nooks in 

 Cornwall, and are so nearly hardy that they will grow to 

 perfection in any rather shady greenhouse free from severe 

 frost, giving them a free root run, with a peaty compost mixed 

 with charcoal and thoroughly well drained. The first week 

 in March is the best time to plant a lapageria, and care 

 should be taken to secure a plant of a good type, for there 

 are many seedling varieties in the market which are scarcely 

 worth growing. Lapagerias, too, need constant syringing in 

 summer, as well as decided dry ness in winter, for many 

 insects attack them ; if their delicate wreaths of blossom are 

 trained too near the glass they are apt to fall a prey to red 

 spider, and in a sunny greenhouse they should be extended 

 on strings below the other climbers, which will thus afford 

 them the shade they need. Plenty of air is necessary for 

 these plants, and they need no pruning, except to remove 

 weak and exhausted growths. They are best propagated by 

 layering the shoots, coiling them round and pegging them 

 firmly down into a large pot or box of peat, sand, and char- 



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