BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY OF CHINA 81 



ground is afterwards weeded occasionally and the earth 

 raked. Each plant produces 1-2, rarely 3-4 large white 

 flowers. The poppy blooms at the end of June up to the 

 end of July according to the situation and period of sowing. 

 Among the white flowers there has also been seen the rose 

 flowered poppy — but rarely. The plants attain a height of 

 60-150 cm. Poppy capsules are of 4-6 cm. in breadth, and 

 of 3-4.5 cm. in length (see PL I). 



W&z 



Plate I. — A Poppy capsule showing mode of incision practised 

 by Chinese in North Manchuria. 



When the petals drop and the capsules grow to an 

 extended size, incisions are made by holding the capsules 

 in the left hand and drawing a small knife two-thirds round 

 it, or spirally beyond the starting point. The operation is 

 usually done at any time of the day, except when it is hottest 

 (midday). The exuded juice is collected a few minutes 

 after the incision is made. The capsules are generally incised 

 4-7 or 10 times. The juice is collected in a small long tin 

 vessel or in a jar made of horn. Later on the liquid is dried 

 in the sun on special waterproof paper. When dry the juice 

 becomes hard and dark brown-black in colour, and the raw 

 opium is now ready. 



In North Manchuria one Russian dessiatina or 2.70 acres 

 of ground gives 30-60 pounds of dry opium. In Ussuri 

 district from 30 to 120 pounds. 



6 



