106 Account of the Purple-fruited Passion Flower. 



as well to leave part of the old tan in the bottom of the pit, 

 in which the protruded roots may remain undisturbed. They 

 do not require the full heat of the pine stove, for they flou- 

 rish best in a temperature of from 65 to 70 degrees ; but 

 they do not bring their fruit to perfection, if kept in a com- 

 mon green-house, or conservatory, though they will grow, 

 and flower in it. The shoots, as they advance, must 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, the fruit setting the whole time ; 

 but if it does not set well, it will be adviseable to impregnate 

 the stigmas, by applying the pollen with a feather. As they 

 grow, the very strong shoots should be cut out from their 

 origin, for these do not bear fruit so abundantly, as those 

 which are less vigorous ; but the fruiting branches must not 

 be shortened, on any account. The temperature must be 

 kept up equally, during the time of flowering and fruiting ; 

 the crop will begin to come in, in August, and will continue 

 until January : but the earlier produce is the best. 



A single strong plant will, in one season, extend over 40 

 feet of glass, or more, if it be permitted to spread. Mr. 

 Simpson's house measures 30 feet by 12, and his plant, 

 though only three years old last summer, nearly covered the 

 entire of the sloping glass ; he reckoned that it had produced 

 about 400 fruit, and I suppose, if the whole space were filled, 

 that the crop to be expected in such an extent, might be at 

 least 500. When the crop is all off, which will be early in 

 January, the heat must be reduced to about 50°., so as to 

 check, or stop the growth : this being effected, the shoots 

 must be well cut in. As little old wood as possible, besides 



