OPIUM 229 



from time to time transfer it to a wooden tray about 

 six inches long and one inch deep, the transfer being 

 assisted by means of a small steel blade inserted for 

 the scraping purpose into the part of the tray nearest 

 the handle. This tray is called an Alguee. 



THE GUM. The freshly-scraped gummy exudate 

 (opium "tears"), is of a soft, pillular consistence, aver- 

 aging from forty to forty-five per cent moisture. The 

 crop of "tears," as it accumulates, is transferred from 

 the Alguee to an earthen vessel or tray, but is sometimes 

 dumped on the sand or earth, where it is kneaded by 

 the hands to a uniform consistence, after which it is 

 made into balls of various sizes. These balls are en- 

 closed in a dress of poppy leaves, placed on trays, and 

 slowly cured in the shade, in a cool location. When 

 they have reached the proper consistence the balls, 

 familiar as the opium of commerce, are packed in bas- 

 kets, an abundance of mixed dried seeds and leaves of 

 wild rumex being used to keep them apart, and to ab- 

 sorb moisture. The opium in these baskets averages 

 from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty 

 pounds. The baskets are of wicker, of uniform size and 

 shape, about three feet deep and one and one-half feet 

 in diameter. They are nearly cylindrical and are lined 

 with linen. 



To make the opium crop even a possible success, the 

 very richest land is necessary, and it must be enriched 

 by constant manuring. The climate must be nearly 

 rainless in the summer, and yet, throughout a neces- 

 sarily mild winter, snow must continually blanket the 

 earth. The agriculturist must be ever watchful, ever 

 patient, and must expect disappointments, even total 

 loss at the last moment. Unfavorable drouths in the 



