296 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



is called new ground, or that which had long rested, or probably never before been 

 in cultivation, may be the cause of their superior quality, and the absence of that 

 common disease called the curl. Potatoes grown in fields are generally much better 

 than those cultivated in gardens. The consumption is now so great of this valuable 

 root, that for the supply of populous towns, fields of considerable extent are annually 

 under this crop, and probably few crops pay the grower better. In the county of 

 Essex, in 1796, it was ascertained that no less than seventeen hundred acres were 

 under this crop, and from the vast increase of population, in the vicinity of London, 

 it is supposed, that the extent is increased in proportion. 



The varieties, which are extremely numerous, in consequence of new ones being 

 often produced by seed, and the disposition of them to assume different habits, when 

 long grown in the same garden, or field, may be arranged under two heads, each 

 differing principally in colour, and each class having numerous sub-varieties. For 

 garden culture, the following are the most useful : — 



irhites. Early manly, early champion, royal dwarf, American early, early ash- 

 leaved, early dwarf, and early frame ; bread-fruit, oblong white. 



Reds. Red kidney, red oval, Irish red, American red, bright red, round purple of 

 red, and speckled purple or red, red apple, black skin, Lancaster pink-eye. 



Of the whites, the royal dwarf, early manly, and champion, are esteemed for 

 forcing, equally with the ash-leaved, and early frame. The American early is good 

 for a secondary crop, and the bread-fruit and the oblong white, for later crops. 



Of the reds, the red kidney, and red oval, which are often confounded, are both 

 good sorts. The bright red is much esteemed in the vicinity of Manchester, for a 

 principal crop, as is the Lancaster pink-eye. The black skin and red apple keep well: 

 the latter is the best keeper which we have. The speckled purple is esteemed in 

 Scotland for a principal crop. The names by which potatoes are known are so arbi- 

 trary, every country and almost every town having their own names for them, and 

 each having their favourite sorts, that a list of names would be of little or no use. 



Rocambole, — Allium Scorodoprassum (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order 

 Ifexandriti Monogynia, and natural order Asphodeh'E. Is a native of Denmark, and 

 cultivated hare in 1596. It is used by some as a substitute for garlic. It is not 

 generally cultivated. 



Rue, — Riila graveolcns, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Decandria Mono- 

 gynia, and natural order Rutacc^. Is a native of the south of Europe, and culti- 

 vated here since 1562. It is sometimes used as a medicinal herb, but never in the 

 kitchen. It is supposed to have derived the name of rue fiom rue, to repent. It 

 was called the herb of grace, from the circumstance of its being used by the priests, 

 for sprinkling holy water among the people. 



Rosemary, — Rosmarinus officinalis, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order 

 dria Monogynia, and natural order Labiatece. Is a native of the south of Europe, 

 cultivated here before 1548. It is seldom used in domestic cookery, but is occa- 

 sionally used in medicine and distillation. 



Rhubarb, — Rheum, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Enneandria Trigynia, 

 and natural order Po///!To??('«. Several species are cultivated in our gardens, prin- 

 cipally for the foot-stalks of their leaves, which are used in tarts and pies. Rhubarb 

 has only of late years been cultivated as a culinary vegetable, but so great is the present 

 demand for it, that it is supposed that there are above 100 acres in the neighbourhood 

 of London under this crop ; and Mr. Wilmot, of Isleworth, alone sends it to Covent- 

 Garden Market by a wagon-load at a time. 



The Rheum palmalum is a native of Tartary, and was long supposed to be the 

 true rhubarb, but Mr. David Don, librarian to the Linneaen Society, has lately shown 

 that the Rheum Emodi of Dr. Wallich, is the medieinal plan . The Rheum palmatum 



