£gg CUXTURE OF THE POPPY FOR Oil. 



that the oil of poppies was not injurious to health, that it did 

 not contain a narcotic power, and that it might be recom- 

 mended to general use with the utmost safety. The medical 

 faculty at hide had also made a similar declaration in the 

 j car 17/3. From that time to the present the cultivation of. 

 the poppy has not met with any formidable opposition; and 

 has increased to such a degree both in Fiance and Brabant, 

 that they have been able to export a considerable surplus, to 

 the great advantage of the husbandman, as well as the mer- 

 chant: and in seasons of scarcity it has been found of the 

 most essential service, in all cases where the use of oils was 

 Cilusedby required. In the northern parts of France, it was used by 

 soap-boilers, soap-boilers, as a substitute for other oils, which were ex- 

 Oil cakes for tremely dear: and in Brabant the oil-cakes are constantly 

 catlle# used as food for cattle with obvious benefit. 



These facts being established, the Committee of Agricul- 

 ture in Amsterdam proposed the premiums above-mentioned, 

 in order to ascertain whether the experiments made would 

 authorize the cultivation of the article upon a large scale; 

 whether the soil and climate of Holland were beneficial to its 

 growth ; whether the quantity or quality of the oil would be 

 similar to the product of France and Brabant ; whether the 

 profits would indemnify the husbandman for giving it the 

 preference to other crops ; whether the oils could be afforded 

 cheaper than those in common use ; and to what purposes 

 either in the arts or manufactories it might be applied. 



Deeming it possible, that the narrative of a contest which 

 subsibted the greater part of a century, and in which the ad- 

 vocates for the internal use of the poppy oil were uniformly 

 triumphant, may have some influence in destroying our own 

 prejudices and apprehensions, respecting the pernicious 

 Particulars of q uaMt y ©f this oil, I shall now proceed to state, in as concise 

 culture. a manner as perspicuity will permit, the most interesting 



particulars respecting its culture; selected from various fo- 

 reign publications upon the subject. 

 Soil. SoiL The poppy may be cultivated with success on vari- 



ous kinds of soil. It has been tried on a rich black soil, 

 peat-ground, and sandy heaths, and been productive. Those 

 lands in which the wild poppy abounds the most, are obvi- 

 ously 



