Rhc 



iin i. 



l 79 



being deeply cut into lobes. It is scarcely so ornamental 

 'or imposing as the fuller-leaved kinds, but is an inter- 

 esting plant. I have seen it grown in some Irish gardens 

 for culinary purposes, but do not remember to have 

 noticed it in English kitchen-gardens. When well grown 

 in deep and rather light and well-drained earth, the 

 flowering-stem of this species attains a height of about 

 nine feet. It is a native of Tartary, and well deserves a 

 place. Rheum Ribes is a somewhat delicate species, a 

 native of Southern Persia, which may be seen in one or 

 two of our botanic gardens, and more frequently in those 

 of France ; but we fear it is not hardy enough to thrive 

 well in these islands. The most remarkable known 

 species is the Himalayan (R. nobile), which has its flower- 

 stems beautifully clothed with large straw-coloured and 

 pink-edged bracts, so as to form what may be termed a 

 pyramid of leaves ; but, as this species is not in cultiva- 

 tion, we need not describe it further. It would prove a 

 very welcome addition to our collection of hardy plants. 

 The common rhubarbs are said by some of our au- 

 thorities to have chiefly sprung from Rheum Rhapo?iti- 

 cum, and some of them have also come from the wavy- 

 leaved Rheum (R. undulatum). In any case, some of the 

 garden varieties of rhubarb are worth planting for orna- 

 mental purposes. They have been so planted in Hyde 

 Park, but in masses — not the proper way to employ them. 

 Kinds deserving of notice are R. austra/c, R. comp actum, 

 R. rugosum, R. Jiybridum, Victoria rhubarb (a garden 

 variety, with very large leaves and long red stalks), 

 Myatt's Linnaeus, and Prince Albert (also garden vari- 

 eties, and splendid ornamental plants). Mr. Shirley 



N 2 



