POPPY. 293 



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. 



The double flowers, however, are more fit for the pre- 

 sent 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. 



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. 



The Common White Poppy called by the French, le 

 pavot des jar dins ; and in Italian, papavero domestico from 

 which chiefly the opium is extracted, is a native of Asia : 

 it grows five or six feet high. 



It is chiefly from the seed-vessels of the White Poppy 

 that opium is obtained ; but some persons have proposed 

 to substitute the double Red Garden-poppy for the pro- 

 duction of this juice ; which is come into such frequent 

 use, that the average quantity consumed in Great Britain 

 is no less than 1 4,400 Ib. yearly of Turkey opium. This 

 juice is collected from the White Poppy, grown at about 

 six or eight inches distance from each other, and well 

 watered, until the capsules are half-grown, when the 



