1G4 THE GARDENER. [April 



Mr Johnston informed us that he has grafted old stunted wood in 

 the above way, where the wood was bare ; but in cases of grafting, young 

 wood is to be preferred. A. Pettigrew, 



[We have practised this mode of grafting, and can endorse what Mr 

 Pettigrew says of it. — Ed.] 



THE PEOPAGATIOW OF LAPAGERIA. 



This beautiful greenhouse climber is somewhat difficult to increase 

 by cuttings ; it is, consequently, yet dear, even though it has been twenty 

 years or more in cultivation. Xor is it very free in producing seed. 

 The white variety is especially shy in seeding, and we have no ex- 

 perience yet, as to whether seedlings of it invariably come true. At 

 Ferniehurst, the other day, our attention was drawn to a method of 

 propagating Lapageria, which to us was quite new, and by which 

 Mr Culley, the able gardener, increases it in large numbers. Mr 

 Culley is as successful a cultivator of Lapageria as of Orchids, and the 

 other select stove and greenhouse plants which form the splendid 

 collection at Ferniehurst. A considerable portion of one house is 

 devoted to Lapagerias in pots. None are planted out, and the pots 

 used are small in comparison with the development of the plants, 

 which are trained in easy style from the pots upward to near the roof of 

 the house, and there spread out in all directions. One of the largest 

 plants of the white variety we ever met with is here, and we observed 

 several pods of seed on it advancing toward maturity. It ripened some 

 seed last year, from which Mr Culley succeeded in raising a fine batch of 

 seedlings, which he is hopeful may be true to the jDarent. But to return 

 to the main object of this notice — the propagation of Lapageria by the 

 method which, so far as we know, has been first practised at Fernie- 

 hurst. Mr Culley yearly cuts out a number of the shoots of the 

 previous year from the established plants. It occurred to him that 

 these might be turned to account in increasing the plant ; and as an 

 experiment, he coiled a strong shoot several feet long round a cutting 

 pan that was previously prepared by being thinly crocked, and three 

 parts filled with sandy peat. On this was laid a thin layer of silver 

 sand, and the branch was coiled upon it and secured by running in sand 

 till the pan was nearly filled. The leaves are retained on the shoot 

 and brought up to the surface as the sand is run in round the coil. 

 The pan is then put in strong heat and kept constantly saturated. 

 Nearly every joint breaks roots and sends up a strong shoot, all of which 

 may be separated in due time and established as individual plants, or 

 the panful may be potted or planted out for the purpose of forming 

 specimens quickly. Mr Culley did not cut or tongue the joints before 



