RHUBARB 



637 



not drawn) to three-fourths of the length of the blade of the leaf, 

 plentifully spotted with red over their entire surface, and more 

 angular than channelled. Leaves heart-shaped, broad, with blister- 

 like swellings on the upper surface, but not much crumpled ; blade 

 of the leaf light green and smooth. This variety flowers abundantly, 

 and has a very thick, smooth, and very branching flower-stem, of a 

 uniform green colour. 



Myatt's Linnaeus. — A second-early sort, resembling Royal 

 Albert, but a much larger and stronger grower. Stalks deep 

 green, rounded, good in quality. 



Myatt's Victoria. — A later kind than Royal Albert. 

 Stalks red, very thick, considerably longer than the blade of the 

 leaf, channelled underneath, and of good quality ; leaves broader 

 than long, heart-shaped or rounded, pointless, very wavy at the 

 edges, very much crumpled, and a rather dark and glaucous green. 

 This variety flowers very scantily. 



Stott's Monarch. — A giant variety, greatly recommended by 

 some for its fine quality, and excellent for preserving. Leaves 

 heart-shaped, over 3 ft. long, and nearly the same in breadth, with 

 a dark green, even-surfaced blade; stalks exceedingly thick, scarcely 

 half the length of the blade, but 3 or 4 in. broad, and of a somewhat 

 bronzy green colour. Flowers very seldom.* 



The Rheum undulatmn of North America is sometimes culti- 

 vated as a vegetable. This is a distinct and early species, and not 

 so acid as other kinds. The leaves are light green colour, very 

 wavy at the edges, rather long, heart shape, but almost blunt ; 

 stalks slender, about as long as the blade of the leaf, smooth, and 

 green, except at the base, which is tinged with red ; flower-stems 

 very numerous, a uniform pale green, and with erect branches. 



The other cultivated kinds of Rhubarb are grown for ornament 

 or for medicinal purposes, but are not suited for the kitchen- 

 garden. A description of them will be found in " Les Fleurs 

 de Pleine Terre." The finest of them are Rheum officinale, H. Bn. ; 

 Rheum Emodi, Wall. ; and Rheum palmatum, L., with its variety, 

 Rheum p. Tanghuticum. 



ROCKET-SALAD 



Eruca sativa, Lank. ; Brassica Eruca, L. Cruciferce. 



French^ Roquette. German, Rauke. Flemish, Krapkool. Dutch, Rakette kruid. 

 Italian, Ricola, Ruchetta. Spanish, Jaramago. Portuguese, Pinchao. 



Native of South Europe. — Annual. — A low-growing plant, with 

 the radical leaves thick, oblong, and divided like the leaves of 

 Radishes or Turnips into several segments, of which the terminal 

 one is oval and much larger than the others. Stem erect, smooth, 

 * Daw's Champion, see p. 773. 



