POPPY. 335 



and in the village dialect, cabosseta. In Italy, papevero 

 erratico ; papavero salvatico ; rosolaccio. 



The petals of this Poppy give out a fine colour when in- 

 fused ; and a syrup prepared from this infusion is kept in 

 the chemists' shops, but it is not supposed to possess any 

 great medical properties. There is a variety with an oval 

 black shining spot in the centre : there are likewise some 

 with double flowers, white, red, variegated, &c. ; but none 

 are handsomer than the common kind, of a bright scarlet, 

 with a deep purple eye in the centre ; which the poet sup- 

 poses to be upon the look out for Ceres : 



" And the poppies red, 

 On their wistful bed, 

 Turn up their dark blue eyes for thee." 



It would behove the said poppies to close their eyes, and 

 conceal themselves when Ceres came, for they do too much 

 mischief to the corn to have any reason to expect her favour. 



The double flowers, however, are more fit for the present 

 purpose; limited room making it desirable to rear such 

 plants as are of longer duration than the Single-poppy ; and 

 these should be sheltered by some tall shrub from the sharp 

 winds, which will otherwise carry them off without mercy. 



Sibthorpe saw an old woman in Arcadia gather the leaves 

 of dock, and of the Wild Poppy, for her supper *. 



The Common Black Poppy grows three feet high : it 

 is named from the blackness of its seeds ; the flowers are 

 purple. Of this species there are many varieties; some 

 with large double flowers; others variegated with several 

 colours, red and white, purple and white, or finely spotted 

 like some of the Carnations. They are very handsome, but 

 their scent is offensive. They require no shelter, and should 

 be sparingly watered. 



* See Travels in the East ; Sibthorpe's Journal, p. 81. 



