THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



NOTES ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POPPY. 



BY T. A. M. GENNOE, OPIUM DEPARTMENT, BENARES. 



Soil of a sandy loamy nature is best adapted for poppy cultivation, 

 though clayed lands are also much used. Lands situated on the margin of 

 rivers, hut free from any collection of stagnant water, are also well suited for 

 the poppy-plant ; alluvial soils likewise, provided the deposits are sand and 

 clay, afford good productive crops. There is a remarkable difference in the 

 quality of the produce of these several kinds of soil ; that obtained from 

 the first-mentioned is characterised by its rich fawn, or dark -brown colour, 

 whilst the consistency is high, and the texture unbroken, whereas the 

 produce of alluvial ground is generally not only dark in colour, but less 

 granular in texture, and somewhat in a liquid state. Poppy-fields should, 

 if practicable, be selected near the vicinity of villages, not only on account 

 of the facilities of irrigation they possess, and the better opportunities the 

 cultivators have of watching the culture of the plant, but lands so situated 

 are always accounted rich from the constant supply of human manure they 

 receive. The peasantry are fond of making fires in the cold weather ; care, 

 therefore, should be taken not to allow smoke to choke up the breathing 

 pores of the plant. Soil composed partly of saline earth, or where nitre is 

 seen diffused in other earthy substances, should always be eschewed, so also 

 lands abounding in siliceous and calcareous earths, where the latter is found 

 in the hard form of Kunkur, are to be avoided. Usar lands, or sandy soils, 

 are equally prejudicial to the free growth of the poppy, as these lands 

 always yield an abundant efflorescence of soda. I have seen some excellent 

 crops of poppy grown on the sites of jungle which have been broi:ght tinder 

 cultivation, and now possess a rich loamy soil. 



From July, or when the rains set in and the ground is moist, the lands 

 should commence to be prepared by being ploughed up, so that by the 

 middle of October, according to their requirements, a liberal supply of 

 manure might be used on them. Ploughing should, however, be suspended 



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