The crimson passion flower, Passiflora kerme-sina, is a beautiful slender growing stove or warm greenhouse climbing vine belonging to the Natural Order Passifloraceae.

With the exception of P. racemosa princeps this is one of the most beautiful and free-flowering species, and one cannot but regret that nothing of its earlier history is with certainty known. All that we know is that it was introduced from Berlin into the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1831.

Although the plant is of slender growth, yet it is by no means a slow or delicate growing plant, for if properly cared for it will attain a height of some 20 feet, and flower in the greatest profusion during the spring and summer months. The flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves on long, slender flower stalks - the corolla and calyx being of a rich carmine color, while the corona or crown is of a purple hue. The leaves are cordate, cut into three lobes, and of a bright green color.

As a climber for the decoration of the greenhouse during the summer season this Passiflora is without an equal, for it can be trained up the rafters so as to occupy but little space, and in the winter, when all the sunlight possible is required, the branches of the plant can be trimmed back to within an eye or two of the main shoots, and in this way no shade is made, as so many object to growing climbers in the greenhouse on account of their shading the plants underneath during the winter months to their manifest injury.

This Passiflora is occasionally grown in the open air as a summer climber with very satisfactory results if given a deep, well enriched soil, and a liberal supply of water during hot, dry weather. Care should also be taken as to training the shoots so as to occupy the desired space while they are yet young; and as the plants are rather tender, they should not be planted out until about the middle of May. When grown inside this Passiflora does best when given a compost of two-thirds turfy loam, and one-third well decayed manure, with" a fair sprinkling of sharp sand, and good drainage is also essential in the cultivation of this plant. It also requires quite a high temperature to do well - in summer not less than 65º and in winter 55º. Water should be freely given during its season of growth, and very little when the plant is in a dormant state.

Propagation is effected by cuttings of the half-ripened wood placed in sand and given gentle bottom heat, and if the young plants are liberally cared for nice specimens will soon be obtained; but be very careful not to overpot the plants while they are yet small.

The late Professor Lindley, in describing this plant, remarks that its flowers have a range of color which art cannot imitate. They are produced in great abundance, and at almost all seasons of the year, and in consequence of the length of the slender stalks from which they singly hang, the whole plant has a graceful appearance, which is unrivalled among Passifloras.

The generic name is derived from "passio," suffering, and "flos," a flower, referring to the filament or rays; and other parts of the flower being likened to the circumstances of Christ's crucifixion; and the specific alludes to the rich carmine or crimson color of the flower. Queens, N. Y.