RHUBARB. 
m 
er, ought to be eater when old, or after having been kept some time, as 
they are then utterly indigestible, and render the breath very offensive.”— 
Dom. Encyc. 
Dr. Cooper observes, that u Radishes ought to be sown in rich ground, 
and carefully tended, so as to grow quickly; if not, they become stringy, 
in which state tney are very unwholesome and indigestible.” 
Seed.— u Radishes that are for seed require much room, as they grow to a 
large size. For this purpose some of the most thrifty ones should be left 
standing; or else be transplanted 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 slowly.”— 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.—-Ruharbe , Ft. — Rubarher , Ger. 
There are three species of this plant in cultivation—the R. rhaponticum , 
a native of Asia; R. hybridum , also a native of Asia, and R . palmatum, a 
native of Tartary, distinguished by its elegant palmate leaves, and consider¬ 
ed as the true Turkey or Russia rhubarb. 
Propagation and culture. — u All the sorts may be raised either from seed 
or 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 fit 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 where they are finally to remain. When a 
plantation is to be made, the ground, which should be light and rather 
sandy, but well manured, should be trenched three spits, or as deep as the 
sub-soil will admit, adding a manuring of well rotted hot-bed dung. Then 
plant in rows, three feet wide by two feet, in the row's for the R. rhaponti - 
cum and palatum, and five feet by three feet in the rows for the R. hybridum. 
No other culture is required than keeping the ground free from weeds, occa¬ 
sionally stirring it, during summer, with a three-pronged fork, and adding a 
dressing of well rotted manure every autumn or spring, stirring the ground 
as deep as possible. Some never allow the flow~er-stalks to produce flow¬ 
ers ; and others cut them over as soon as they are done flow T ering, to prevent 
the plants from being exhausted by the production of seeds. The former 
ceems the preferable method, as the flowe: stalks of the plants cannot, like 
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