200 
11 HUB ARB CULTIVATED NEAR BANBURY. 
6. What uses are made of the leaves and leaf-stalks ? 
Are the latter sold for the table ? Is wine ever prepared 
with them ? If so, a sample to be sent. Is there reason to 
suspect that the leaves are used for adulterating tobacco ? 
7. Which is the principle mart for English rhubarb root ? 
Is it'entirely consumed in England, or is any of it exported ? 
What is the average price of it ? 
S. Is rhubarb cultivated in other parts of England for 
medicinal use ? If so, where and to what extent ? 
ANSWERS TO QUERIES RESPECTING THE CULTIVATION OF 
ENGLISH RHUBARB, NEAR BANBURY. 
By Mr. William Bigg. 
1. Three parties cultivate rhubarb root for sale, in the 
neighborhood of Banbury, viz. Rufus Usher, of Overthorpe 
and Bodicott; Thomas Tnstian, of Milcombe; and Edward 
Hughes, of Neithorp. The exact number of acres is not 
known, but probably does not exceed twelve altogether. 
On some portion of such land other crops are occasionally 
grown. 
2. The cultivation of rhubarb for medicinal use was first 
undertaken in this neighbourhood by a surgeon and apo- 
thecary, named Hay ward, about fifty years ago. That gen- 
tleman died in the year 1811. His widow (of a second mar- 
riage) is living, and states that Mr. Hay ward, having com- 
municated the results of his experiments to the Society of 
Arts, in London, received from them two medals — one of 
gold, the other of silver. The number of persons employed 
in the cultivation, &c, does not, probably, exceed six or 
eight — men, boys, and sometimes women. 
3. Only one species is in cultivation for medicinal sale ; 
Rheum Rhaponticum. It has no distinctive popular name. 
Specimens of the seed and of the prepared root are forward- 
ed. (The stem and leaf procured are decayed.) 
4. The root is suffered to grow from three to four years 
