308 BRECK'S NEW BOOK OF FLOWEKS. 



I have found that the Tree Peony flowers stronger when 

 well protected in autumn by a liberal coating of manure 

 about the roots, and the top protested with straw. 



PAPA VER. POPPY. 



[Name of obscure derivation , by some said to be derived from the Celtic 

 papa, thickened milk, in allusion to the milky juice of the plants.] 



" And thou, by pain and sorrow blest 

 Papaver, that an opiate dew 

 Conceal'st beneath thy scarlet vest, 

 Contrasting with the Corn-flower blue ; 

 Autumnal months behold thy gauzy leaves 

 Bend in the rustling gale amid the tawny sheaves." Mrs. C. Smith. 



This genus is well known as furnishing a valuable medi- 

 cine as well as for its ornamental plants. Opium is the 

 dried juice of Papaver somniferum, from which Lauda- 

 num, Morphine, etc., are prepared. The seeds of the 

 Poppy are without narcotic properties, and are used as 

 food. The Poppy produces a great number of seeds, for 

 which reason Cybele, the mother of the gods, is repre- 

 sented crowned with Poppy-heads as a symbol of fecundity. 

 The species of this genus are all showy, with large brilliant 

 flowers. 



Paparer somniforum. Opium or Garden Poppy. 

 This, in its natural state, has large single flowers, 

 which soon fall away and are succeeded by a capsule, which, 

 when wounded, exudes a milky juice that, on drying, 

 becomes Opium. The double varieties, or Hybrid Pop- 

 pies, are very ornamental. Picotee Poppies, are improved 

 varieties with white flowers, spotted or splashed with 

 crimson, scarlet, or purple, and very handsome and dou- 

 ble. The Peony-flowered have very large, full double 

 flowers, of rich colors and shades of crimson, purple, scar- 

 let, rose, white, variegated, bordered, etc. A bed of these 



