In reply to Mr Donaldson, I beg to say, that when we bought our plant from "Fisher, Holmes, & Co.," of Handsworth Nurseries, Sheffield, Mr Fisher informed us that it was the true variety, as sent out by Messrs Veitch of Chelsea, and that was the first time we heard of there being a doubtful variety in the market. Our plant is now growing fast, and showing flower-buds, and I have just examined many of last year's and this year's leaves, and find, that the glands vary in number, but in no instance have I observed less than two pairs; sometimes there are three pairs, and frequently the third pair, nearest the base of the leaf, is only represented by a single gland on one side. It may be useful to know, and perhaps Mr Donaldson will be kind enough to inform your readers, if his plant differs from ours in this respect. From what I have seen of this Passiflora at different times, it seems to me that the only conditions needful to induce a fruitful habit are - a pine-stove temperature, top and bottom, abundance of light, a limited rooting-space, careful impregnation of the flowers, and last, but not least, to be careful, in pruning, to remove what shoots are not wanted entirely, and allow those that are retained to grow as much as they will during the season without stopping.

This, at all events, has been our practice, with what results I have already stated. Many gardeners and others saw our plant, and remarked the heavy crop, considering the age of the plant - among others Mr Fowler of Harewood, who has long grown and fruited it also; and he was of opinion that it would still drop part of its fruit. It did not, however; and in consequence of the fruit all ripening about the same time, we had more fruit than we could find use for, and we disposed of a large number of them to a fruiterer. The flowers were all impregnated with their own pollen: we had no other Passiflora in bloom on the place. J. Simpson.

Passiflora Quadrangularis #1

I have to thank Mr Simpson for his courteous reply to my inquiry anent the glands of his P. quadrangularis, and in return have to state that our plant in the Cucumber-house - which, we trust, will carry fruit this season - has from four to six glands on a leaf-stalk. Last year we removed a plant with small leaves, on which we never observed more than four glands on a leaf-stalk. As a climber, it was grand with its hundreds of bluish or lilac-rayed and sweet-scented flowers, which it produced in early spring and late autumn. We had it also for P. quadrangularis. We have grown the Buonapartea and Billottii; with us they produced large flowers, but few of them. We have fruited the P. edulis for a number of years, and we would advise those who have a spare wire in a plant-stove or intermediate house to give it a trial. The flowers which it produces are not sensational, but the dark purple-coloured fruit look well on the plant, and are highly esteemed by some for dessert. G. Donaldson.

Keith Hall.