1899.] History of Garden Vegetables. 329 
J. Lowell, in the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository, says 
that thirty years ago we were strangers to the rhubarb, which 
has now become an article of extensive culture. R. Manning, 
Secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, says that 
in 1844 it was acquiring that popularity which now renders it in- 
dispensable. In 1863 Burr describes ten varieties for American 
gardens. I am not sufficiently acquainted with this genus to 
refer our cultivated sorts to their proper species, but I cannot 
agree with Vilmorin in referring them all to one species, Rheum 
hybridum. I present the species, in order of introduction, to 
which our cultivated rhubarbs have been referred by authors. 
Rheum rhaponticum L. 
A native of Southern Siberia and the region of the Volga, it 
was introduced to Europe about 1608, and cultivated at Padua 
by Prosper Alpinus, and seeds from this source were planted by 
Parkinson in England about 1640 or before”? There is no 
reference, however, to its use as a vegetable by Alpinus’ in 
1627, nor by Ray” in 1686, although the latter refers to the 
acid stalks being more grateful than that of garden sorrel. In 
1778, however, Mawe ™® says its young stalks in spring, being 
cut and peeled, are used for tarts. In 1806 M’Mahon'” mentions 
it in American gardens, and says the footstalks are very fre- 
quently used, and much esteemed for tarts and pies. In 1733 
Bryant’ describes the footstalks as two feet long, and thicker 
than a man’s finger at the base. 
Rheum undulatum L. 
To this species have been referred garden varieties with a red 
stalk. It is said to be a native of China, and introduced to Eu- 
rope in 1734. It is mentioned in American seed catalogues of 
113 Pharmacographia, 1879, 500. 
ut M'Mahon. Am. Gard. Cal., 1806, 205. 
us Bryant. Fl, Diet., 1783, 67. 
