262 



RHUBARB. 



from the attacks of insects. Buck-wheat bran is an excel- 

 lent manure of itself." — Farmer'' s Assistant. 



Use. — " Formerly the leaves were often boiled and eaten ; 

 but now the roots are chiefly employed. These are eaten 

 raw in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The young 

 seedling leaves are often used with cresses and mus- 

 tard, as small salad; and radish-seed pods, when of plump 

 growth, but still young and green, are used to increase the 

 variety of vegetable pickles, and are considered a tolerable 

 substitute for capers." — Loudon. 



Radishes are esteemed aperient, attenuating and anti- 

 scorbutic : when eaten in moderate quantities, they are ia 

 a certain measure salubrious to persons of strong habits ; 

 but are, in general, apt to produce a considerable degree of 

 flatulency in those whose stomachs are relaxed. No rad- 

 ishes, however, ought to be eaten when old, or after having 

 been kept some time, as they are then utterly indigestible, 

 and render the breath very off'ensive. — Dom. Encyc. 



Dr. Cooper observes that Radishes ought to be sown 

 in rich ground, and carefully tended, so as to grow quickly ' 

 if not, they are become stringy, in which state they are 

 very unwholesome and indigestible." 



Seed. — " Radishes that are for seed require much room, 

 as they grow to a large size. For this purpose some of the 

 most thri.^y ones should be left standing ; or else be trans- 

 planted to a place where each shall have as much room as 

 nearly a yard square. The ripeness of the seed is known 

 by the pods turning brown. For this purpose the seeds 

 must be sown early in the spring, because they ripen slow- 

 ly." — Deane. 



For forcing radishes, hot-beds, and culture proper for hot- 

 bed productions, should be resorted to. See Encyc. of 

 Gard. p. 596. 



RHUBARB. — Rheum. — There are three species of this 

 plant in cultivation — the R. rhaponticum, a native of Asia; 

 R. hyhridiim, also a native of Asia, and R. palmatum, a na- 

 tive of Tartary, distinguished by its elegant palmate leaves, 

 and considered as the true Turkey or Russia rhubarb. 



Propagation and culture. — All the sorts may be raised 

 either from seed or by dividing the roots. If from seed, 

 which is the best mode, sow in light, deep earth, in spring; 

 and the plants, if kept eight or nine inches asunder, will be 

 5t for transplanting in autumn, and for the next spring. 

 When the roots are divided, care must be taken to retain a 

 bud on the crown of each section : they may be planted 



