1873.] MADRESFIELD COURT GRAPE. 187 



CURCUMA. 



This genus of plants has been sadly neglected although of the easiest culture, 

 and beautifully ornamental. I feel perfectly satisfied they will make fine 

 subjects for the dinner-table— if not for exhibitions. 



Curcuma cordata. — Has bold, oblong - lanceolate foliage; the flower-spike 

 18 inches or more in height. The bracts are more like deep pouches, and are 

 arranged around the spike in five rows. The bracts are green, the upper ones 

 deeply tipped or margined with violet purple, and from each of those pouches a 

 deep yellow flower is thrown up at intervals. 



C. Roscoeana. — Many may prefer this to cordata. It also has bold, lanceo- 

 late leaves, perhaps not quite so broad as in the case of cordMa. In other 

 respects it is similar, excepting the colour of the bracts or pouches, which are 

 of a bronzy yellow, and the flower lighter yellow. It is a very interesting plant. 



C. petiolata. — This is a lovely species. If not new, I believe it has been lost, 

 and recently reintroduced. It also has bold arching leaves, with fine spikes of 

 flowers. The lower bracts or pouches are greenish white, tipped with rosy 

 pink ; the upper ones are deeply tipped and margined with rosy magenta — a 

 very beautiful plant. 



The next I shall name — not particularly for its flowers, but for the decorative 

 effect of its leaves — is C. rubricaidis. This I have always grown as a foliage 

 plant. The leaves are from 5 to 7 feet, or more, in height, according to strength ; 

 the whole stem is of a deep red crimson colour, running through the midrib of 

 the leaves, which are long, moderate in breadth, and lanceolate, forming a very 

 elegant plant. If confined in 6 and 8 inch pots, they are very useful for table decor- 

 ation, and also by putting many tubes together, as you would a Caladium. This 

 would make a fine i)lant in a collection of foliage plants. 



The soil which suits these plants best is a rich fibrous loam, and peat or 

 vegetable mould and rough sand, similar to what one would recommend for a 

 Caladium. 



Propagation is effected by dividing the tubers in spring. They like liberal 

 culture, plenty of good soil and water, and moderate heat. If required late 

 in autumn, give an additional shift; — perhaps the same plant will flower twice 

 or thrice, or oftener, in one season. When they show signs of going to rest, 

 dry them off gradually, and lay them under the stage on their sides on inverted 

 flower-pots, to keep them from damp, but not too near the pipes. A good time 

 for starting them is about March, when they should be shaken out of the old 

 soil, and potted in rather small pots. T. B. 



MADRESFIELD COURT GRAPE. 



In reference to the several questions that have arisen of late concerning the 

 above Grape, permit me to give the few truthful and positive facts which have 

 presented themselves during my experience with it. In so doing, it is not with 

 the intention of raising any further discussion upon the merits of the Grape, or 

 in any way to oppose or question the statements made against it by our able 

 and worthy contributor, Mr Cramb, and others, but simply to state how the 

 Grape has done with me, as reference has been made to this place. 



With me, I assure you, Madresfield Court has not as yet merited the some- 

 what severe and perhaps rather hasty stigma given by Mr Cramb in the 

 'Gardener' for August 187*2. I have it planted in an outside border, at the 

 cool end of a Muscat vinery, which I think is the proper place for it, as I find 



