This section is from the book "The Gardener V3", by William Thomson. Also available from Amazon: The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener.
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. Nor is it very free in producing seed. The white variety is especially shy in seeding, and we have no experience 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 parent.
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 Ferniehurst. 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 coiling, and is of opinion that it is unnecessary, though a little scarification on the under side might facilitate rooting and expedite the process.
W. S.
 
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