bjects are almost unknown in American eon- 

 5, but with the spread of private greenhouses 



in America they will surely be grown, at least 



of the finer fanciers' collection 



610. Common Currant— Ribcs rubrum, in bloom ( 



points are taken from B. M. 4435, where it is said that 

 these plants are of ornamental appearance, even when 

 not in flower. In spring the tubers should be deprived 

 of last year's mold and repotted in a fresh mixture of 

 light loam, leaf -mold and turfy peat, the pots being well 

 drained, and placed in a warm pit or frame in bottom 

 heat. Water should be given sparingly until after the 

 plant has made some growth. The young roots are soft 

 and succulent, and are likely to rot if the soil remains 

 wet for a longtime. After flowering, the le 

 signs of decay, and water should be gradually with- 

 drawn. During the resting period the soil should not 

 be allowed to get dust-dry, or the tubers are likely to 

 shrivel. The plants are propagated by dividing the 

 tubers in spring. The flowers of Curcuma are large and 

 gaping, hooded above, and with a 3-toothed lower lip. 

 In the throat are seen 2 teeth, which are the tips of the 

 anthers. Curcumas are essen- 

 tially tropical plants, and the 

 great difficulty is said to be to 

 maintain sufficient heat while al- 

 lowing them enough air. 



cordata, Wall. Lvs. 1 ft. long, 

 sheathing, ovate-conlate. acumi- 

 nate, the same color nn botli sides, y 

 obliquely penniuerved : bracts in J" 

 a cylindical spike, the upper ^ 

 part forming a sterile portion ' 

 called a coma, which is a rich 

 violet, with a large blood-colored 

 spot : fls. yellow, with a pink 

 hood. Burma. B. M. 4435. -This 

 is now referred to C . pt^tiolata, 

 Roxb., but B.M. 5821 seems at 

 least horticulturally distinct, with 

 its rose-pink bracts. 



C. ttlbinhra. Thwaites, differs from 

 the others here described in having its 

 spikes sunk below the lvs.. instead of 



CURRANT 41& 



standing high above the lvs., and all the bracts have fls., while 

 the others have a sterile portion of the spike which is brightly 

 colored. In this species the spike is short and green and 

 the Hs. are prominent and white. Ce.vlon. B.M.5909.— 0.4KS(ro- 

 (dsica, Hook. (., has itsupper bracts soft, rosy pink and the tis. 

 pale yellow. Australia. B. II. .Sli'iO.— C. Ifoscoedna, Wall., has 

 a long and splendid spike, witli l.ni.is Kr.idually ch.ingiug from 

 green to the vi\i.If -t ;,,; t,.;,ii_, tl^. pale yellow. Burma. 

 ■'''""•'■' I;. ■ '' !':!> ttie upper bracts white. 



B.M. 



ithi 



■^'ated lvs.. which, 

 yellow of tlie flow- 

 ■ndor. Himalayas. 



CTTBLED LEAVES are often caused by aphids or 

 plant lice. For reme<lies, see Spraying. The leaf-curl 

 of the peach is a fungous disease. See Diseases. 



CUEMfiEIA. All referred to ffomalomena. 



CUEEANT. Pour species of Currant are known to 

 American gardeners as fruit-bearing plants. Jiibes 

 nibriim (Fig. 610) includes all the red and white varie- 

 ties. This species is found wild both in Europe and 

 North America. Jfibes nigrum (Fig. illll, the European 

 black Curriint, although well kn.iwn in .\iMiri,a. has 

 never become generally popular. :i' ' , much 



prized by the foreign population. /. i ■titutn 



(Fig. 612), more commonly known a /. -ih, is 



the wild black Currant of America, li i-\.i> -imilarin 

 character to the European black t.'uiiaut, an<l i.s now 

 and then transferred to gardens. 7,'.'.. n inir.ni,, (Fig. 

 613), oftener grown for ornament, lia-- aUii hi < n planted 

 for fruit, having been sold from tinu- to tiinu under 

 various varietal names, the most recent being the Cran- 

 dall. See Eibes. To the commercial fruit-grower only 

 the first of these species is of great importance. It is a 

 native of cool climates, and its profitable culture is con- 

 fined to northern latitudes. It does not thrive in the Gulf 

 states and, except under irrigation or in specially favor- 

 able locations, makes but a partial success in the drier 

 region of the Plains. 



Both experience and the natural habitat of the plant 

 indicate that a cool, moist soil is best adapted to its 

 growth. Strong, moist loams, with a considerable ad- 

 mixture of clay, are preferable. Even a stitt' clay, well 

 drained and in good tilth, will give good results. In 

 small supply for the home garden, it may be grown in 

 almost any soil. A cool northern exposure or partial 

 shade is always desirable, and the more unfavorable the 

 soil, or the more nearly does the location approach the 

 southern range of adaptation, the more important does 

 this become. For this reason western growers often find 

 the best results to come from planting in orchards, and 



