The true Rhu
barb probably
procured from
'different Species
o f Rheum
barb ; arid his defcription of that plant anfwered to the
figure of the Rheum Rhaponticum. The truth of this
defcriptiori was ftill further confirmed by feme Mongol
travellers who; had been in the neighbourhood of the
Koko-Nor and Thibet; and had obferved the rhubarb,
growing wild upon thofe mountains.
The experiments alfo made by Zuchert and others,
upon the roots of the R. Rhabarbarum and R. Rhaponticum,
fufficiently prove,, that this valuable drug; was
procured from thofe roots in great perfection. But as
the feeds of the Rheum Palmatum were received from
the father of the above-mentioned Bucharian merchant
as taken from the plant which furniihes the true rhubarb,
we have reafon to conjecture, that thefe three
fpecies, viz. R. Palmatum,. R. Rhaponticum, and R. Rha-
barbarum, when found in a dryer and milder alpine
'climate, and in proper fituations, are indifcriminately
drawn up ; whenever the fize of the plant feems to pro-
mife a fine root. And perhaps the remarkable difference
of the rhubarb, imported to Kiachta, is occafioned by this
indifcriminate method of collecting them. Moft certain
it is, that thefe plants grow wild upon the mountains,
without the leaft cultivation; and thofe are efteemed the
beft which are found near the Koko-Nor, and about the
fources of the river Koango.
Formerly
Formerly the exportation of rhubarb was confined to
the crown of Ruflia ; and no perfons but thofe employed
by government were allowed the permiffion of
fending it to foreign countries; this monopoly however
has been taken off by the prefent emprefs, and the free
exportation of it from St. Petersburg granted to all perfons
upon paying, the duty. It is fold in the firft inftance by the
College of Commerce for the profit of the Sovereign ;
and is preferved in their magazines at St. Petersburg*
The current price- is fettled; every year by the College
of. Commerce.
It is received from the Bucharian;merchants at ^ achta Pr^ofxta-
in exchange for furs ; and the prime coft is rated at
16 roubles per pood.. By adding the pay o f the com-
miflioners who purchafe it, and o f the apothecary who
examines it, and allowing for other neceffary expences,
the value of a; pood at Kiachta amounts to 2.5'roubles;
add to this the carriage from the frontiers to St. Peterf-
burg, and it is calculated that the price of a pood Hands
the crown, at 30: roubles.- The largeft exportation o f
rhubarb ever known from Ruflia, was made in the yean
1765, when 1350 pood, were exported, at 65 roubles-
per pood.
2 EX