2 THE NEW EHUBAKB CULTURE. 



day; but the use of the leaves as a pot herb is iiieutioned 

 in Queen Elizabeth's time. 



The i'hul)arh cultivated as a veo-etable is derived from 

 iiheuiii. of which there are many species and widely dis- 

 rrihuted as to nativity. Xearly two liundred years ago 

 a variety, |)rol)ab]y IJlieum Iihaponticuni, was produced 

 in Kussia, which de\'eh)pc(l far hirgei' and finer leal' 

 stalks and was known as ("rown rhubarb. 



The varieties now in use are hybrids between Eheum 

 Ehapoiiticuni. KMieuni rndulatuni, and Rheum Pahna- 

 tu.ni, and in JMigland weiv brought to a high state of ])er- 

 fection in the early part of the present century. 



The old sorts in much favor were Tobolsk and 

 Erford. Later on came ^Mitchelfs Royal Albert and 

 Dancer's Early Scarlet. 



The principal varieties under present cultivation in 

 this country are Myatt's Victoria, Myatt's Linnanis, and 

 the Mammoth with some other varieties, probably seed- 

 lings and bearing local names. 



About forty years ago strenuous efforts were made 

 in this country, and especially in Michigan, to cultivate 

 it as a wine plant. However, the inferior quality of the 

 wine together with its supposedly injurious effects, high 

 war taxes, and other contingencies, combined to bring 

 it into disfavor and the project was abandoned. 



As a vegetable its cultivation is extending both in 

 this couiitry and ])ortions, at least, of Euro])e. 



/ts' Xafirc lloiii.c. — As seen from the foregoing, the 

 cultivation of idiubarb as a drug is of great anti(piity and 

 as to locality, widely disseminated. Tt will also be seen 

 that as a vegetable, the varieties now in use are descend- 

 ants of a variety originating in a fai' northern clime. 



//.<? Acclimation. — The j)arenl. Inning its l)irth])lace 

 in the rugged frosts and snows of Siberia, ^V\\\ its chil- 



