100 



green, hairy, of two leaves, which fall off when the flowers open. 

 Petals four, much wrinkled when first opening, with wrinkled 

 edges, broad and lapping over each other, soon falling off, and 

 of a fine scarlet color. Stamens purple. Stem hairy, branched, 

 upright, bearing leaves and flowers. Root leaves stalked. Stem 

 leaves sessile both sorts deeply and doubly cleft, and very 

 hairy hairs all spreading out as wide as possible. Seed vessel 

 nearly round, and quite smooth, crowned with eight dark rays^ 

 which are the styles. Juice of the plant milky. By these 

 marks the present species may be known from all others in the 

 world, and this is the true art and use of botanical descriptions. 

 Poppies are the emblem of sleep, for from a white species, 

 which is very common in the East, and now and then found 

 wild in England, opium is obtained a drug of powerful effect 

 in producing sleep and stilling pain, yet at the same time a most 

 deadly poison, and that produced from our common species is 

 of the same effect, but less powerful. 



" Within the infant rind of this small flower 

 Poison hath residence, and medicine power; 

 But tempered well and wisely tasted. 

 It warms the bosom that lay wasted. 

 Soothes pain, and labor, and disease, 

 And sheds a magic oil on passions stormy seas.'' 



Moral of Flowers. 



The opium is obtained thus the plants, when fully grown, 

 are cut and gashed with knives, which occasions the white juice 

 to run out. This soon dries in the sun ; when it is collected, 

 and formed into large cakes. Laudanum is made by dissolving 

 opium in spirits of wine. 



None of the Poppies have any fragrance ; nothing but a dis- 

 agreeable odour exhales from them ; and even the virtues which 

 they really possess must be administered by so skilful a hand, 

 that they may well be considered more baneful than useful, and 

 however their flaunting gaudiness may attract the eye, it wins 

 not the affection. 



" Poppy! thy charms attract the vulgar gaze, 

 And tempt the eye with meretricious blaxe. 

 Caught by the glare, with pleasure they behold 

 Thy glowing crimson melting into gold. 

 In vain to nobler minds thy lure is spread, 

 Thy painted front, thy cup of glowing red. 

 Beneath thy bloom such noxious vapours lie. 

 That v\hen obtained and smelt we loathe and die." Taylcr. 



