144 
NAT. ORDER. PASSIFLORE^. 
character but little known to the inhabitants of this country ; hence 
their history would be of but little interest. 
Propagation 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 flower. 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. Most of the species ripen fruit in our stoves, and consequently 
many fine varieties have been raised by impregnating the stigmas 
of one with the polen of another. Several hybrids, raised from the 
seeds set by the polen of Passijlora coerulea, 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 Granadilla. All the species will 
fruit even in large pots, but it is best to plant them 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 the pit. They do not require the 
full heat of the stove, for they flourish best in a temperature of from 
65"^ to TO'^ ; 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 
