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CULTURE OF RHUBARB. 
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ARTICLE IV. 
ON THE CULTURE OF RHUBARB, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF ITS 
HISTORY AND INTRODUCTION INTO THIS COUNTRY. 
BY JOSEPH PAXTON, F. L. S. &C. 
History. — The first species of Rhubarb cultivated in this country, 
was the Rheum rhaponticum; it is a native of Asia; but by whom 
it was introduced is unknown. The ancient Greeks called the root of 
commerce “ Rhabarbarum,” because it grew plentifully on the banks 
of the river Rha, (Wolga) in Russia. The Greeks, however, of more 
modern times, changed its name to “ Barbaricum,” because it was 
brought to Barbary for sale. The species so much in use at that 
time, has till lately been generally believed to he the R. palmatum ; 
hut Mr. David Don has satisfactorily proved it to be the R. australe, 
of Mr. Don’s “ Flora Nepalensis,” and the R. Emodi of Dr. Wal- 
licli. It is, however, very probable, that the roots of various species 
are used, as the hark of various species of Cinchona is collected as 
the true hark. By what means, or to whom mankind is indebted, 
for the discovery of the medicinal quality of the roots, is totally un¬ 
known ; it is, however, probable, that its virtues were appreciated by 
the ancient physicians : for Dioscorides, physician to Anthony and 
Cleopatra, wrote on its qualities, in his work on Botany and Medi¬ 
cine, published just before the Christia Era, where he recommends 
it against weaknesses of the stomach, diseases of the liver, &c. &c. 
Galen also, another Greek Author, who wrote on medicine about a 
century afterwards, strongly recommends it for diseases of the liver. 
Paulus AEgineta, who is said to have been the first man that prac¬ 
tised midwifery, appears to have first used rhubarb as an opening 
medicine. The roots were brought from China, where Michael 
Boyne, in his “ Flora Sinensis,” published at Vienna in 1656, says 
the plant is a native, and grows in great abundance. It was intro¬ 
duced from thence by Tartary to Aleppo, Damascus, and Alexan¬ 
dria, and thence reached Vienna. It was not known to Europe, till 
1535, when the Chinese brought the roots for sale to the city of 
Goa in India. Valmont Beaumare states, that some soldiers in the 
army of Charles the V. brought it to Spain from Africa about the 
same time. This does not appear unlikely, for the dreadful disease, 
which the followers of Columbus brought from America into Spain, 
spread with such fearful rapidity, that it became indispensable to 
adopt measures to stop its violence; it seems therefore probable, this 
drug was introduced as a remedy ; for Garcilasso de la Vega, who 
