FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 289 



P6NDS. Those which have no natural outlet may 5 

 nevertheless, in most cases, be drawn off by sinking a well, 

 oi hole, through the stratum of clay, or other close earth 

 wnich holds the water, until a stratum of gravel shall be 

 found, into which the water of the pond may be carried^ 

 where it will sink away The well, or hole, should be filled 

 up with stones, and the waters of the pond directed by 

 ditches into it. Frequently the bottoms ot ponds are found 

 to be fine rich earths, and well worthy of cultivation. The 

 draining of such ponds is also highly requisite, for the pur- 

 pose of avoiding the miasma which proceeds from them, and 

 which is so productive ol levers. 



Artificial ponds are sometimes made at the corners of 

 two or more pasture-lots, for supplying cattle with water. 

 One, ot an hundred and twenty feet circumference, should 

 be about five feet deep in the centre. To mukt it retentive 

 of water, it must be lined with a thick layer of tough clay 

 and fresh slaked lime, mixed well together, and beat down 

 hard with wooden beetles or sledges; and on the top of this 

 beat in a good layer of coarse gravel. The edges, and for 

 some distance down the sides, ot the pond, should then be 

 faced with a solid pavement of stones, so large as not to 

 be moved by the treading of the cattle. Moist places, and 

 those where water can be collected together alter rains^ are 

 best for ponds ot this kind. 



POPPY (Pafia-ver Somniferum.} There are two species 

 f this plant, the double poppy and the single. 



Doctor Ricketson says, that either ot the species yield the 

 same quantity and quality of opium, He directs the seeds 

 to be planted in beds, about the middle of May, in rich 

 moist ground ; the plants to stand a toot apart. They are 

 to be kept clear of weeds with the hoe. 



The plants, he says, yield the most juic during their 

 flowering, and immediately before and after. At this time, 

 he directs the stalks to be cut off about an inch below the 

 heads; and, as the juice exudes, to take it off with a pen- 

 knife. The part cut off will at first yield juice as well as 

 the standing stalk. When this ceases to run, cut it off a 

 little lower, and so on, till all the juice is extracted. 



The juice is to be evaporated in the sun, till it is suffi- 

 ciently dried. 



One method mentioned by Mr. Green, for obtaining the 

 juice of the poppy, is by making four or five longitudinal 

 incisions, in each of the capsules of the plant, from the 

 stalk upwards, before or at the time they are fully ripe ; 

 taking care, however, not to penetrate the cavity of the 

 seedvessels. 



