174 On cultivating in Great Britain the Papavcr somniferuvi. 



Opium costs the wholesale druggist in London at this time 

 (May ISIH) 17*. 6d. per pound, which, witli a duty of 85. 8c?. 

 per pound, makes it li. 6s. 6d., and they charge the apothecaries 

 36s. per pound, which is the present London price of the article. 

 The London price of opium varies so much, that about twelve 

 years ago it was as high as 845. per pound, and it seldom falls 

 so low as 24.?. 



If the crop can be got off the ground by the middle of August, 

 it is proposed to liave a second crop of potatoes or turnips, which 

 will give, it is supposed, about 30/. more. 



Comparative View of the Experiwents of Messrs. Ball, Howi- 

 son and Young, for ascerlainirig what Quantity of Opium 

 might be prepared in Britain. 



lb. oz. dr. gr. 



Mr. Ball, from 576 square feet, or one fall and 



28 square yards, obtained about . . ..0400 



Dr. Howison from about five falls, obtained ..0840 



In 1817, from one fall and 14 square yards, con- 

 taining 1 SCO plants, I obtained '.. ..0400 



According to Mr. Ball's method, one fall produced 



two ounces and two drachms, or per acre . . 22 8 



According to Dr. Howison's method, one fall pro- 

 duced one ounce five drachms and 36 grains^ 

 or per acre .. .. .. .. ..17000 



By my method, one fall produced two ounces 



seven drachms two grains and a, or per acre 28 12 6 24 



In 1818, from one fall I obtained five ounces six 



drachms four grains and +> or per acre . . 57 9 4 48 



Certificates. 



Edinburgh, Dec. 22, 1817. 



Dear Sir, — During the course of last summer I repeatedly vi- 

 sited your plantation of poppies, for the manufacture of opium, 

 in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. 



I admired very much the method that was followed for collect- 

 ing the opium from the plants. For, by your plan, the very great 

 inconvenience, which arises from the unsteadiness of our climate, 

 if the Bengal method of collection, recommended by Dr. Howi- 

 son in the Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, be 

 adopted, is completely obviated. 



I have lately prescribed your opimn to many different patients, 

 both in private and hospital practice, with the best effects. I 

 have particularly prescribed what you put into my hands to se- 

 veral patients in the clinical wards of the Royal Infirmary, and, 

 as I was inclmed to infer from its appearance, I have found it 

 remarkably efficacious, in no degree inferior to the best Turkey 



opium. 



