lOapaiUT SOinilltcrum. Natural Order: PapavcracetE — Poppy Family. 



1 



KOM this plant is obtained that powerful narcotic, the opium 

 of commerce. It has a milky juice that exudes from incisions 

 made on the capsules of the plant. After it has been col- 

 lected, it is worked in the sun until it is firm enough to be 

 Vtormed into cakes for exportation. Ceres is pictured carrying 

 ^^ Poppies in her hand, because, when she lost her daughter, 

 .Jupiter gave her Poppies to eat, that she might get sleep and 

 rest, \\ hich she could not before, for the intensity of her grief The 

 flowers are white, large and double. The Oriental Poppy from the 

 Le\ant is a beautiful flower of a rich scarlet. The capsule is round, 

 with a flat cap or covering, underneath which are small openings 

 through which the seeds may be scattered as from a pepperbox. 



QLEEP, sleep! be thine the sleep tliat throws 

 ^ Elysium o'er the soul's repose, 

 Without a dream, save such as wind. 

 Like midnight angels, through the mind. 



TTOW beautiful is sleep! 



Yet if its purest beauties thoi 

 On the babe's slumber creep, 

 And bid thy heart confess its 



—Robert M. Bird. 

 Yet sleep is awful, too — 

 So like to death's its features it can dress; 

 Meek slumberer! while I view 



appeal. 



Thii 



deeply feel its awfulness. 



r\ MAGIC sleep! O comfortable bird 



^ That broodest o'er the troubled sea of the 



Till it is hush'd and smooth. O unconfined 



Restraint! imprison'd liberty! great key 



To golden palaces — ay, all the world 



Of 



rj*ROM a poppy I have taken 

 ■*■ Mortal's balm and mortal's 

 Juice that, creeping through the h 



