348 
THE PASSION-FLOWER. 
The regulation, arrangement, and distribu- 
tion of the branches, may require a more 
particular notice. The flowers being pio- 
duced on the young, growing shoots, it is 
necessary to manage them so as to secure the 
greatest quantity of these on the space within 
which the plant is to be restricted. There is, 
perhaps, no better rule, than to prune away 
whatever is superabundant, and confine the 
branches to the rafters, or principal wires on 
the roof, or if on a trellis, so as to allow clear 
spaces between them, and then to allow the 
blooming shoots to hang about in festoons, or 
in the most natural and graceful manner that 
can be secured : these shoots would partly 
Passiflora quadravgularis. 
require removal, at the subsequent regulation 
of the plants, which should take place during the 
period when they are not in vigorous growth. 
We have not yet heard of much having 
been done in the hybridization of the Passion- 
flower ; although, from the fact that many of 
them produce seeds freely enough, and that 
there exists a very great dissimilarity between 
many of the kinds, there seems no reason why 
something more should not be done in this way. 
Some few seedling varieties are in existence, 
and these may be taken as evidences and 
pledges of what might follow, were some 
careful and assiduous cultivator to give atten- 
tion to the subject. Why not impart the 
odour of P. fragrans to the more abundant 
flowering, and more useful P. kermesina, and 
P. Loudonii ? Or, why not impart the colour 
of these to the hardy species, and thus add 
some other gems to our out-door climbers ? 
Even the more ample foliage of some of the 
tender kinds, if secured in connexion with a 
more hardy race, would certainly be an acqui- 
sition ; and why should it not be attempted ? 
and if attempted, why not obtained ? Look- 
ing at what has been done with other things, 
we see no reason to doubt that this would, in 
due time, and with due perseverance, be also 
accomplished. 
CULTUKE OF THE FRUIT-BEARING KINDS. 
Several species of Passiflora, being cul- 
tivated as fruit-bearing plants, it will be desir- 
able to give some account of the treatment 
which is required to secure the proper growth 
and ripening of the fruit. They are called 
Granadillas. P. quadrangularis is most gone- 
rally cultivated : its fruit is oblong, about six 
inches in diameter, of a sweet, slightly acid 
flavour, grateful and refreshing, especially 
in a hot climate, where it is usually eaten 
with wine and sugar. 
A house, somewhat intermediate between a 
stove and a green-house, is most suitable for 
them : they will grow and flower in the latter, 
but do not set their fruit unless supplied with 
more warmth ; they do not, however, require 
the full heat of a stove, but succeed in a 
temperature of about sixty-five degrees. They 
will succeed if planted in large pots or boxes, 
but the better plan is to give a greater scope 
to the roots by planting them out into the 
corner of a tan-bed, or over a hot-water tank. 
A portion of the pit should be parted off by 
boards, quite down to the bottom, and this 
space should be filled up, first, with a portion 
of brick rubbish for drainage, on this a portion 
of rough old tan, and the remainder good light 
loam, well enriched and lightened by the 
addition of very old tan, leaf mould, and 
manure ; in this they will rapidly progress, 
and protrude beyond the narrow boundary 
into the tan-bed beyond. As the shoots 
advance in growth, the strongest should be cut 
quite away, as they are less prolific than others 
of more moderate growth ; the remaining ones 
should be trained as they advance near to the 
glass, and they will begin to produce flowers 
in May, and continue blooming till September, 
during which time the setting of the fruit will 
be going on ; these fruiting branches ought 
not to be shortened. If the fruit does not set 
well, the stigmas should be impregnated by 
applying the pollen either of the same, or of 
any allied kind ; and in cases where a large 
quantity may happen to be set, part of them 
should be removed, to impart extra vigour to 
the remainder. During the time of flowering 
and fruiting, the temperature will require to 
be equally and regularly maintained, to encou- 
rage the swelling and ripening of the fruit. 
About August, part of the crop will be arriv- 
ing at maturity, and others will continue to 
do so for some months ; the earliest fruit are, 
however, the best, owing to the influence of 
