AN ENCYCLOPEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 411 
Curcuma— continued. 
compost of loam and peat, in proportions of two-thirds 
of the latter to one of the former, to which may be added 
a little sand. Propagated by root divisions. 
C. albiflora (white-flowered).* Л. white, yellow. July. J. long- 
stalked, glabrous, somewhat plaited el to the nerves, deep 
green above, paler beneath. 2ft. Ceylon, 1862. (B. M. 5909.) 
C. australasica (Australian).* fi. yellow ; spikes many-flowered ; 
upper bracts aeris idet orming a pretty crown to the inflo- 
rescence, l oblong-lanceolate, light green. Australia, 1867. 
(B. M. 5620.) 
C. cordata (heart-shaped).* fl. reddish-yellow ; spikes central; 
bracts ovate-obtuse ; pe at top of spike violaceous, July. 
ovate-cordate, acuminate, clothed with silky hairs. л. 1%. East 
Indies, 1846. <В. M. 4435.) 
C. elata (tall). ji. crimson; spikes lateral. May. J. sessile, 
villous К green. А. ft. East Indies, 1819. 
C. leucorhiza (white-rooted) Ji. reddish-yellow ; spikes lateral, 
few-flowered, comose. Мау. l. smooth, pure green. A. 1%. East 
Indies, 1819. 
C. longa (long) ikes central August. J. long-stalked 
broad, green. A. dit! "East Indies, 1759, (B. M. Pl. 269.) ; 
C. petiolata (petiolate).* 1. pale yellow; spikes 5in. or біп. long, 
on a stout peduncle ; bracts rosy-purple, shortly ovate. Septem- 
ber. l. rather large, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, cordate at the 
base. Л. lift. Pegu, 1869. (B. M. 5821.) 
C. Roscoeana (Roscoe's).* fl. scarlet ; bracts bright orange ; spike 
nearly lft. long. August. l large, oblong, about lift. across. 
h. lft. East Indies, 1837. A very handsome species. (В. M. 4667.) 
C. rubricaulis (red-stemmed).* fl. red; spikes lateral. Мау. 
l. stalked, oblong, with red sheaths. A. lft. East Indies, 1822. 
C. Zedoaria (Zedoary). fl. red; spikes lateral. April to Anean 
L broad, sessile, silky beneath. Л. 3ft. East Indies, 1797. 
(B. M. 1546.) 
CURMERIA. Included under Homalomena. 
CURRANT (Ribes). There are three distinct types 
of Currants in cultivation—the Red (see Fig. 572), obtained 
Fie. 572. FRUITING BRANCH OF RED CURRANT. 
from Ribes rubrum; the White, a variety of the same 
species; and the Black (R. nigrum). Both species are 
either natives of Britain, or have been introduced from 
some other part of Europe at & period unknown. The 
fruit of the Red Currant is largely used for tarts; it is. 
also preserved in the form of jelly, or mixed with rasp- 
berries for jam. Тһе White is generally less acid, and is 
more used for dessert, with a few Red ones intermixed. 
Black Currants are almost wholly utilised for cooking and 
preserving, and are supposed to possess medicinal proper- 
ties not found in either of the others. The trees grow in 
almost any position, and the crop is often a remunerative 
one to cottagers, particularly near large towns, and also 
to market gardeners. Currants are in great demand in 
private gardens; and, in this case, if the trees are planted 
in different positions, and protected, the fruiting season 
| may be considerably prolonged. 
Currant—continued. 
Propagation. Currants may be propagated by seeds, 
cuttings, layers, or suckers; and, in special cases, grafting 
may be employed, using suckers or gross-growing seedlings 
for stocks. Seeds are only sown for raising new varieties, 
but as the chances of obtaining improvements on those 
sorts already existing, are extremely doubtful, this method 
is but little adopted. Suckers are objectionable, as they 
are often gross-growing and not free-fruiting; they are 
also very liable to reproduce suckers. Layers root easily 
if the trees are dwarf and the shoots can be brought to 
the ground in order to be pegged down; but this mode is 
seldom used, and is not here recommended. Propagation 
by cuttings is the best and most generally practised plan. 
These should consist of strong well-ripened young shoots, 
taken off close to the old wood if possible. If a length of 
from 12in. to 15in. can be procured, the cuttings should be 
placed 6in. in the ground, first carefully removing the whole 
of the eyes in this part, and also from some part of the 
wood above ground, so as to form a stem. The earlier 
they are taken in autumn after the wood is matured, and 
inserted, the better; but if this is not practicable, any time 
when the ground is suitable, up till the end of February, 
will be tolerably safe. The best method of putting in 
cuttings is to dig a trench of suitable depth, somewhat 
vertically, and place them about 6in. apart, afterwards 
filling in and treading firmly. A space of 1ft. should be 
allowed between the lines, and each other line proceeded 
with in the same way after the first one is finished. 
Soil and Site. Being vigorous root-producing plants, 
Currants do best in good rich loam, 2ft. or more in depth, 
rather heavy than otherwise, so as to retain moisture. In 
dry seasons, if they are growing in light soil and are not 
kept watered, the fruit shrivels or ripens prematurely, 
being in either case inferior. Any fairly good soil will 
grow Currants of moderate quality; but for large crops and 
fine fruit, the conditions above mentioned are the best. 
Manure water, applied when the fruit is swelling, will 
inerease the size, but often affects the flavour. Established 
trees should have a good annual dressing of farmyard 
m:nure or cowdung after the winter pruning, removing 
&little of the soil round the trees and placing the manure 
in, afterwards covering it with the soil. Red and White 
Currants are often cultivated on the back walls of lean-to 
glass houses, or other similar positions, in order to prolong . 
the season of fruit supply as much as possible; but the erop _ 
from such trees can hardly be expected to have the flavour 
of that more exposed to the sun. The bush form is invari- 
ably adopted for Black Currants, and for the main erop of 
the Red. А space of 5ft. or 6ft. must be allowed between _ 
the trees in the open quarters, and a south aspect should - 
be avoided, especially in light soils. Bush trees, 3ft. high 
and as much in diameter, are sometimes grown alternatel; 
with pyramid Apple or Pear trees, by the sides of walks NT 
and Currants trained as pyramids are also well adapted for 
such positions. The earlier the planting can be done in 
autumn, after the leaves are off, the better,as new roots 
are then formed at once, and a crop secured the follow- 
ing season, presuming the plants are large enough. д 
Pruwing and Training. For covering walls, a good р 
is to place young plants Sft. apart, selecting Tho thros 
strongest shoots, and training one of them upright in the 
centre, and the other two equidistant on either side, thus 
placing all the main shoots 1%. apart. Cut back if at —— 
all weak, allowing them in course of time to reach the — 
desired height, and occasionally shorten all the laterals. 
Bush trees should have a clean stem of 6in. or more at . 
the bottom, and from six to twelve main shoots, according 
to the size of bush intended to be grown. Occasionally, - 
pyramids are formed by training one strong shoot to a 
good height, shortening it each year, to insure the produc- — 
tion of spurs for fruiting. When trained in this way, 
Currants have a fine effect, and are almost certain to pro- 
duce good crops, which have the advantage of being kept 
