346 On the Cultivation of the Poppy. 
article of profit. There is often a long repose between the 
acquisition of knowledge, and the application of it to prac-, 
tical purposes; and in this case I allow that many difficulties 
are to be surmounted before the open and avowed consump- 
tion of this oil would be sufficiently extensive to make the 
production of it an object of sufficient magnitude. But the 
increasing demands for oils of all sorts in our extensive ma- 
nufactories, and by the daily improvements in our provin- 
cial towns, the immense sums expended in the importation 
of foreign oils, and most probably of this very oil under a 
false name, and the daily incréase of their price, render a 
power in reserve most desirable. The time may arrive when 
the scarcity of oils for domestic use may increase to an alarm- 
ing degree ; in this case, the general reluctance to the use of 
those which are now deemed of an inferior quality may in 
a great measure subside, and we may perhaps rejoice at being 
supplied at a cheaper rate with that very oil which passes 
emoothly among us under the fictitious character of genuine 
oil of olives. I shall at least enjoy the satisfaction of put- 
ting it in the power of the public to assist themselves at 
some future period; and take encouragement respecting the 
success of ny endeavours from the nature of this very plant, 
which is frequently known to lie for years in the soil in a 
state perfectly inert, until some favourable circumstances 
may have promoted a vigorous vegetation, to the surprise 
and alarm of the farmer,: who has uniformly 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 be imposed by government, and become considera- 
ble deductions. But this objection has no reference to our 
first essays. The duties will not become an object until the 
product of poppy oils shall sensibly diminish the importation 
of foreign oils; and in that case the wisdom of government 
will doubtless prevent their rising so high as to operate as a 
discouragement to a culture which would turn the balance 
of the oil trade in our favour; and, should we be able to ex- 
tend this culture so far as to export the article, a very mode 
fate duty upon both home consumption and exportation may 
prove 
