296 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



can practise to-day and retain his self-respect. 

 It is not tolerated in respectable society in this 

 country, which demands that a gentleman smoke 

 his tobacco, or go without it. 



* 



POPPY 



r 



The drug, morphine, is extracted from the dried 

 juice, called opium, of the poppy, cultivated 

 extensively in eastern countries. The pod that 

 contains the seeds is pierced while still green, and 

 the milky juice that exudes is allowed to dry over- 

 night, when it is collected. Hand labor makes 

 poppy culture a slow, primitive business. But the 

 Indian government has built up a vast industry 

 through its monopoly of the growing of this plant 

 and the export of opium to China. The Chinese 

 are opium-eaters (or smokers) to such a degree that 

 their rulers have become frightened, and have 

 tried to stop the importation of the drug, in hope 

 of checking the habit. The British and the local 

 officials have worked against the success of this 

 wise plan, causing repeated failures, until recent 

 years. Now the importation of opium is lessened, 

 and China is throwing off the deadly drug. 



The effect of opium is first exciting, then drowsi- 

 ness ensues. Small doses ease pain, and give a 



