1890.] History of Garden Vegetables. 331 
Boston which weighed 2 lbs. 2% ozs., and in 1882, twelve stalks 
which weighed forty pounds.'” 
Rheum ribes L. 
This plant is considered by Linnaeus'® to be the Ribes 
arebum of Rauwolf, who traveled in the Orient in 1573-5, and 
who found it in the region of the Lebanon,” and its habitat is 
also given as Eastern Persia. Decaisne and Naudin™ refer to it 
as grown in gardens in France, but not as esteemed as the R. 
hybridum, while the Bon Jardinier of 1882 says it is reported 
the best as an esculent, and is greatly praised. 
Rheum australe, Don. 
This species, which is the R. emodi, Wal., is said by 
Loudon ™ to have an excellent flavor, somewhat resembling that 
of apples, and excellent for a late crop, and the Bon Jardinier of 
1882 says the petioles are longer and more esteemed than those 
of other species. On the contrary Burr ™ in 1863 says the leaf 
stalks, although attaining an immense size, are unfit for use on 
account of their purgative properties, but the plant is sometimes 
cultivated for its leaves, often a yard in diameter, which are useful 
for covering baskets containing vegetables or fruit. 
The wild rhubarb about Cabul is blanched for use as a vege- 
table, and under the name of rewash is brought to the market. 
Gravel is piled about the sprout as it breaks from the earth, and 
by continuing the process the plant is forced to grow to the 
height of 18 or 20 inches. Another process is to cover the 
sprout with an earthen jar, and the sprout then curls itself 
spirally within the jar, and becomes quite white, crisp and free 
from fibre. Itis eaten in its raw state with either salt or sugar, 
and makes a favorite preserve’™. 
127 Mass. Hort. Soc. Trans., 1887, III., 1882, 244. 
128 Li Sp., 2d ed., 532. 
12 Gronovius. Orient., 49- 


131 Loudon. Hort., 1860, 688. 
182 Burr. Field and Gard. Veg., 1863, 631. 
133 Harlan. U.S. Pat. Off. Rept., 1861, 528. 
