No. 129.] 345 



Rhubarb affords the latest instance of the intrusion and estab- 

 lishment of strange herbage in our kitchen gardens. 



Cuthill in his practical instruction for t]:e cultivation of the 

 potato, &c., 1850, says, "That Mr. Joseph Myatt, of Deptford, a 

 most benevolent man, now upwards of seventy years of age, was 

 the first to cultivate Rhubarb on a large scale. It is now nearly 

 forty years since he sent his two sons to the Borough market 

 "with five bu7ichesj of which t/iey could sell only three! The next 

 time they took ten bunches, all of which were sold. Mr. Myatt 

 now thought it would become a favorite, and determined to in- 

 crease its cultivation. He was indebted for his first dozen roots 

 to Mr. Oldcare, gardener to Sir Joseph Banks. They consisted 

 of a kind imported from Russia, firm and much earlier than the 

 puny variety cultivated by the Brentwood growers, for Covent 

 Garden. 



Mr. Myatt had to contend against many prejudices, but time, 

 that universal leveller, overcame and broke down every barrier, 

 and rhubarb is no longer called ^^ physic." 



If ever our admirable palace of glass becomes a showy, steamy, 

 suffocating Jardin d'Hiver, (winter garden) it will be a capital 

 thing for the apothecaries ; such a vigorous crop of colds, coughs 

 and consumptions will be raised there, that it will be the walk 

 if not the dance of death to frequent it. 



The subject of gardening occupies the first sixteen and a half 

 pages of the July number of this Quarterly. 



Beirut, Syria, July 16, 1851. 

 My dear Sir, — I take the liberty of writing you, to inquire 

 concerning a matter in which I have taken some interest since 

 my residence in this country, and which I desire to take hold of 

 in my own ; and that is the culture of silk. It is produced in 

 large quantities in this part of the world, and I have studied the 

 subject with a good deal of interest. My present object in writ- 

 ing is to ascertain whether there are any good places on Long 

 Island, or in New-Jersey, or on Staten Island, or in Westchester 

 county, to be had, which are suited to this business. I should 



