70 Swayne on the Manufacture 



Science, I had not seen the Essay on that subject in the Second 

 Number of the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal; but only a 

 short notice of it in a Bath newspaper. I have since had the 

 pleasure of perusing it wholly. The ingenious author has 

 therein mentioned three different modes of sowing the poppy 

 seed ; which being easily referred to, it is unnecessary for me 

 to transcribe. 



The method which I have experienced to be the best, is to 

 sow the seed broadcast, from between the fore finger and 

 thumb, in the manner turnip seed is commonly sown, on land 

 well manured, dug up with the spade in flat ridges, about half 

 a rod wide ; the surface harrowed or raked fine, and the seed, 

 after sowing very lightly, raked in. The earlier the seed is 

 sown after the hard frosts are past, the more abundant will be 

 the produce of opium. If it is wished to prolong the time of 

 collecting the juice, so as to employ a smaller number of hands, 

 it will be adviseable to sow the ground intended for this crop 

 at three several times, that the plants may become fit for the 

 scarifying instrument in succession. On this plan, one third 

 part should be sown as early in February *, as the ground can be 

 properly prepared for it ; one third more in the beginning of 

 March; and the remaining third part before, or by the begin- 

 ning of April. I have, indeed, once sown so late as the 20th 

 of that month, and had a moderately productive crop. But 

 sowings so late as this are not to be depended on. Should dry 

 weather of any continuance immediately ensue, they will be 

 worth but little. 



When the plants have been up about a week or ten days, or 

 they have three or four leaves each, the ground should be di- 

 vided into beds three feet wide, with alleys or intervals between, 

 of the width of twenty inches. This may be performed very 



* Virgil, whose directions in agricultural matters are by no means to 

 he despised, says, respecting the time of sowing poppy seed, Geor. Lib. 1. 

 1.211: 



Usque sub extremum brumas intractabilis imbreni 

 "— — — — ^— — ^— -^^ cereale papaver, 

 Tempus liumo tegere. 



