156 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



well known for its neat, compact growth of greyish saw- 

 toothed leaves, and its profusion of vivid orange-scarlet 

 flowers in the early days of summer. This forms a deep 

 tap-root, and should be handled with care in removal. As 

 it produces new crowns in plenty, the readiest way to 

 increase it is by division ; but it seeds freely, and therefore 

 can never be a scarce plant. 



In the production of the potent drug, opium, several 

 species of poppy are employed. The " proper " plant is 

 Papaver somniferum, from which opium of the best 

 quality may be obtained, not only in semi-tropical climates, 

 but in England. The drug is obtained by making slight 

 incisions in the green capsules, the result being that 

 a milky exudation appears in the line of the wound, and 

 this being scraped off is crude opium. Of its further 

 preparation, and of its uses and abuses, it will not be 

 expected there should be any disquisition here. 



