£94 CULTURE OF THE POPPY POR OIL. 



consideration rent of land, taxes, &c., winch are not men- 

 tioned in the statement. Mr. Van Eys has remarked, that 

 the expenses attendant upon pressing out the oil, in this 

 first essay, were considerably greater than would be experi- 

 enced in the usual course of business. We may also notice, 

 that the preparation of the ground by manual labour crea- 

 ted a difference in the expense, that would prove an equiva- 

 lent at least to the value of land and contingent charges. 

 But what is of much greater moment is the very low price 

 of the oil, as stated in the above account. That of an infe- 

 rior quality being valued at somewhat less than 5s per gal- 

 lon ; and the superior at less than 5s. 6d.; whereas common 

 lamp oil is with us sold for 6s. per gallon, and sallad oil of 

 no extraordinary quality at 2s. 6d. or 3s. per pint, or l/. or 

 4s. per gallon. 



It clearly appears from these facts, that Is. 6d. per pint, 

 or 12s. per gallon for the prime article wholesale, and at least 

 4s, per gallon for the inferior sort, would be an advantage- 

 ous price for the purchaser, who would be able to retail it 

 considerably under the current prices of these articles. 

 Estimate to the Accordiug to this estimate, the receipts upon 271 minge- 

 mer. b ' ^ en or °i uarts °f tne co/c?-drawn would amount to about 40/. ; 



upon 102 quarts of the inferior, to 5/. ; and upon 782 cakes, 

 at l/. per 100, to 7/. 10*. ; total 52/. 10s. for one morge, which 

 would be after the ratio of 26/. 5s, per acre. The expen- 

 ses not exceeding 10/. per acre, would yield a clear profit of 

 1/. 16/. 



Should the oil of superior quality answer the description 

 given of it, and be more palatable than the olive oil in com- 

 mon use, \2s. per gallon would perhaps be too low an esti- 

 mate for our national character. For observation authorizes 

 me to assert it as a serious fact, that nothing has a greater 

 tendency with us to depreciate articles of nutrition, especi- 

 ally if they approach to luxuries, than to render them too 

 cheap. And although we complain universally, that such 

 articles are extravagantly dear, we almost as universally sus- 

 pect or despise whatever may be purchased at a very reason- 

 able price. But as retailers are both able and willing to 

 obviate this objection, the above statement for the vendor in 

 wholesale may be permitted to remain. 



But 



