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the nursery-bed, at its opposite season. I persevere in this practice, lest the 
summer, in proving too dry, should be equally detrimental as too wet a 
winter: but as draining the seed-beds may be so easily effected, and the 
safety of the plants necessarily ensured, so now, without on any account 
neglecting the former ; I principally depend on the latter sowing for a suc¬ 
cession : besides, it is attended with the least trouble and expence; and if 
throughout the operation is well attended to, success is nearly reduced to a 
certainty. 
Again, I have somewhere observed, that a proper mode of cultivation 
would greatly facilitate the cure of this root; in other words, good manage¬ 
ment will ensure its welfare till its arrival to a proper age: and that this has 
ever appeared to me of the most absolute necessity, I have never failed to 
represent. By nothing else can it acquire that degree of woodiness, in which 
I suspect the principal secret of its cure consists. Age too is necessary to 
give the plant its proper growth ; otherwise, when it undergoes the operation, 
its pieces will be diminutive, insignificant, and unprofitable. Above all, it is 
entirely indebted to age for its medical virtues; and I firmly believe, that to 
this, more than to soil or situation, it is owing that the Turkey has been 
hitherto considered superior to the English Rhubarb. 
In this place permit me to introduce an opinion that I have for some time 
entertained, viz. that those parts of the root are of the finest quality that are 
the farthest removed from the seed. This difference is easily discoverable from 
its earliest stages; and so assured am I of the fact, that, but for want of a 
supply of offsets, and one or two other considerations, I should be almost 
tempted to abandon my present, in favour of this mode of cultivation. But 
though, in this respect, the Rhubarb is evidently superior, yet it should be 
recollected that the other is less precarious, and its growth and produce much 
more considerable. 
Although, according to every public testimony, of which mention will 
presently be made, I have reason to believe my progress has been more con¬ 
siderable than that of my contemporaries, if there are any, yet I have no 
conception that we have arrived at the ne plus ultra. Let us rather hope, 
that every suceeding year will be productive of a degree of improvement pro¬ 
portionate to the advantages of increased experience. As we are so much 
indebted, therefore, to the age of our plants, let me caution all who have, or 
may engage in this undertaking, never to yield to impatience; for, with a 
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