PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 113 



this plant have, no doubt, in decoction, somewhat of the flavor of tea, and 

 they resemble it in shape and other characteristics. I am led to suppose 

 that it may contain Hiein, and I have, or can gathef sufficient of it for an 

 analytical test, if such can be had. I think it likely that the same thing 

 has been presented to you before, and that you are acquainted with it 

 better than myself." 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — It is the identical article that was extensively used 

 after " the g-reat Boston tea party," and during the Revolution was called 

 " Jersey tea," and of late has been called "American tea," and as sucli has 

 been gathered and cured to sufiScient extent to fill a great many empty tea- 

 chests, and from these the tea has been retailed in this city to considerable 

 extent; a good deal of it has doubtless been sent to the country and sold 

 at a dollar a pound to the very persons who have had to pay an extra price 

 for breaking prairie that was covei'ed with tlie identical shrub bearing the 

 leaves which furnish their tea-party beverage. Tiie leaves of this shrub 

 do not contain Thein, nor do they contain anything deleterious, and they 

 do make a rather pleasant beverage, which is a very good substitute for 

 the real OTinese article. The leaves should be gathered when fresl> and 

 green and dried in the shade, or else like tea-leaves, by fire heat in shallow 

 pans, stiring constantly. We recommend our western friends to try a 

 little of the abundant "prairie tea." 



A New Wheat. 



Mr. Isaac Diehl, Jarvis, De Kalb County, Ind., says: " Eight years ago I 

 selected from my field five heads from one stool, sowed the seed, saving 

 and repeating until I got 83 bushels before selling any. Since then some 

 of my neighbors have grown 48 bushels per acre. This year not quite so 

 good. It is now much sown in this section, as it is the earliest variety 

 known, and in this bad j'ear is the best of any variety here. The straw is 

 short and heavy, and does not lodge upon rich ground." 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — If all this is true wheat growers will do well to 

 procure some of the seed and try it. The sample sent is a fine, plump, white 

 berry of small size. 



Opium from Common Poppies. 



A correspondent writes as follows: 



" If all the opium in the poppies in our gardens were to be saved, I believe 

 it Would amount to one half the consumption in the States. Last week I 

 experimented a little, and estimated that, with enough plants, an active 

 person could gather four ounces in a day, which, at the present wholesale 

 price would be worth four dollars. Many people think that the common 

 garden poppy does not give pure opium. To satisfy myself on this I tested 

 some, and found the yield of morphia equal to the best imported. 



" Directions. — After the flowers have fallen oft', with a sharp-pointed knife 

 make a slight incision entirely around the capsule, about half way down 

 from the top, being careful not to cut through it. The milky juice will 

 instantly exude, and in two or three hours be dry enough to scrape ofif 

 with a dull knife. It must not be done in wet weather." 

 [Am. Ikst.] U 



