THE EDIBLE PASSION-FLOWER. 



203 



THE BANANA. 



One kind only of Banana, the Musa Cavendishii (fig. 383), is grown 

 at my garden, but it has not yet fruited. This dwarf variety is the 

 easiest to fruit in this country, and I have seen it in great perfection 

 at Peterborough House, Fulham, and at other places. One fruit "was 

 shown lately by Mr. Sage, at the Horticultural Society, weighing 

 46 lbs. The plant likes bottom heat and rich soil. I have tasted in 

 this country the produce of the Abyssinian Banana, now so much 

 praised for the beauty of its leaves, both here and in Paris. Fine 

 specimens of the fruit have been grown by Mr. Cunliffe at Coulsdon. 

 My plant is grown in my vinery, which is evidently not sufficiently 

 warm for it. 



Fig. 384. — Passion-flower Fruit, 

 \ diam. 



Fig. 383.— Banana. 



Fig. 385. — Passiflora macrocarpa, \ diam. 



THE EDIBLE PASSION-FLOWER. 



I grow the Passiflora edulis (fig. 384) in my fernery, where it fruits. 

 The fruit is about as big as a hen's egg, and hard outside. The seeds 

 are enclosed in a pulpy mass, which has a delicious flavour, and is much 

 enjoyed by West Indians. This plant can evidently be readily grown 

 in any warm house. There is another passion-flower which yields 

 enormous fruit, but it has not fruited with me, the Passiflora macro- 

 carpa (fig. 385), the pulp of which is also excellent. 



