1 873-] PROPAGATION OF LAPAGERIA ROSEA. 259 



not expect it will ever take a position as a timber-tree, or even rise 

 to a stature lofty enough to form a prominent feature in our lawns or 

 shrubberies, it is worthy of a place in any collection of ornamental 

 shrubs. It requires a deep rich loamy soil, with a dry but cool sub- 

 soil. Hugh Fkaser. 



PROPAGATION OF LAPAGEPIA KOSEA, &c., 

 AT CHATSWORTH. 



The system of propagating this splendid climber by Mr Cully brings 

 to mind a very successful mode of treating this plant as adopted by 

 Mr Speed at Chatsworth. When there (on a visit for a few days) in 

 February last, I was much struck with many things which Mr Speed 

 practised well out of the "old rut." In a Camellia house, where a 

 path leads along the back wall, a narrow bed of Lapageria was grow- 

 ing in strong loam. The shoots were growing as freely almost as a 

 Passiilora ; many of these were pegged down or covered with some of 

 the loam, and sending out shoots white and strong as quills. Mr 

 Speed pulled up a handful of these rooted layers with no more con- 

 cern than as if they were so many weeds. Loam is not generally 

 used for growing Lapageria, but here nothing could be more satis- 

 factory. Loam, " pure and simple," seems to be the favourite soil 

 with Mr Speed for many things which are generally grown in lighter 

 stuff. In this same house Camellias are grown entirely in loam, and 

 right well they thrive in it ; probably no finer plants are to be found 

 in Britain. AYe some time ago read of Camellias being so fine 

 that they would "hide a bullock" in their centres ! I would hardly 

 venture to say that these Chatsworth bushes would hide such large 

 quadrupeds, but I maintain they would give shelter to a small flock 

 of sheep. The leaves were as large as laurel-leaves, and the plants 

 were loaded with flowers, open and in bud. In a corridor I took note 

 of a Reticulata albapleno with over 1000 blooms coming out ; this was 

 a trained plant. The oranges which we saw a few years ago in a sad 

 plight are now fine healthy specimens. Mr Speed's reply to the 

 question of what his secret is in securing such fine plants of the above, 

 was, "Good loam resting on good drainage, cleanliness, and plenty 

 of water." There is a great deal in these few words — watering 

 especially ; simple as it may appear to apply it, very few can water 

 satisfactorily. Surface-dribbling kills half the plants which die every 

 season in pots. Among other things very well done in this corridor 

 are, Chorozemas, Brugmansias, Rhyncospermums, and Correas, planted 

 out and trained, densely covering the wall. Passing from this to the 

 large conservatory, which covers an acre of ground, it has greatly 



