

CULTURE OF THE POPPY FOR OIL. gC^ 



vigorous vegetation, to the surprise and alarm of the farmer, 

 who has uniform! v mistaken it for a weed. 



N. B. It may be objected, that in the above estimate of 

 the profits, mention is not made of the duties which may 

 hereafter he imposed by government, and become consider- 

 able deductions. But this objection has uo reference to our 

 first essays. The duties will not become an object until the 

 product of popny oils shall s< nsibly diminish the importa- 

 tion of foreign oils; and in that case the wisdom of govern- 

 ment will doubtless prevent their rising so high, as to ope- 

 rate as a discouragement to a culture, which would turn the 

 balance of the oil trade in our favour; and should we be 

 able to extend this culture so fai as to export the article, 

 a very moderate duty upon both home consumption and 

 exportation may prove more than equivalent to the duties 

 at present collected. 



Since writing the above, I am informed by a person 

 who deals largely in foreign oils, that letters from Leghorn 

 announce an alarming deficiency in the last year's product; 

 that the quantity is very small, and of a very inferior quality. 

 This information should operate as an additional motive to 

 the attempt recommended. The injury induced upon olive 

 trees by inclement weather is frequently to such an extent, 

 that it can only be repaired by the slow growth of new 

 plantations. This circumstance gives an astonishing ad- Advantage 

 vantage to a substitute, of which, by its being an annual frombein g*** 

 product, the deficiency of the most unfavourable year 

 cannot be equally extensive, and would probably be sup- 

 plied by the increased abundance of the year ensuing. 



IX. 



