THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 237 
and possesses all the properties of the best annotto in a con¬ 
centrated form.”* 
But though we deprecate the artificial colouring of cheese 
or butter, even with the genuine article, still less could we 
recommend the use of the following, which is the usual stuff 
sold in the English markets for colouring dairy produce, nay, 
we have reason to believe that even this make up, sold by 
“ respectable people,” is still further mixed with the vilest 
ordure by the less scrupulous, and sold as fine annotto. 
“ ANNOTTO, COMMON, Syn. Reduced Annotto, 
English. 
“ Annotto. —Egg or flag annotto 24 lbs., gum tragacanth 
10 lbs., starch 6 lbs., soap 1J lb., red bole or Venetian red 
1 lb., water q. s.; mix by heat in a copper pan, and form into 
rolls.” f 
It is, however, time to leave this dirty theme, which we 
do with the advice to repudiate high or artificially coloured 
cheese. 
2. The Passionworts, as represented by the passion-flowers 
of our gardens and hot-houses, are known to all. They are 
surrounded by the halobf superstition, from being supposed to 
symbolise all the events of the Passion of our Lord—the 
cross, the stigmata or wounds, the crown of thorns, &c. Pro¬ 
fessor Lindley says: 
“ Passion flowers are the pride of South America and the 
West Indies, where the woods are filled with their species, 
which climb about from tree to tree, bearing at one time 
flowers of the most striking beauty, and of so singular an 
appearance that the zealous Catholics, who discovered them, 
adapted Christian traditions to those inhabitants of the South 
American wilderness, and at other times fruit, tempting to 
the eye and refreshing to the palate.” 
As Dr. Masters is still more particular in describing the 
superstitious reverence attached to this plant, we quote the 
following from the ‘ The Treasury of Botany 
“ These singular and beautiful plants are chiefly natives of 
tropical America, a few being indigenous in Asia. The name 
was applied from a resemblance afforded by the parts of the 
plant to the instruments of our Lord’s passion, and its atten¬ 
dant circumstances. Thus, the three nails—two for the 
hands and one for the feet—are represented by the stigma; the 
five anthers indicate the five wounds; the rays of glory or, 
as some say, the crown of thorns, are represented by the rays 
of the ‘ corona ; 5 the ten parts of the perianth represent the 
* ‘ Cooley’s Practical "Receipts,’ p. 80. 
t Ibid., p. 80. 
