THE POPPY. 



.583 



brought to the required consistence by mere exposure to the air in 

 the shade, though, at the same time, all the watery particles of the 

 juice that will separate are drained off, and used in making Lewah, 

 or inferior opium. 



The lands selected for poppy cultivation are generally situated 

 in the vicinity of villages, where the facilities for manuring and 

 irrigation are greatest. In such situations and when the soil is 

 rich, it is frequently the practice with the cultivators to take a 

 crop of Indian corn, maize, or vegetables off the ground during 

 the rainy season, and after the removal of this in September, to 

 dress and manure the ground for the subsequent poppy sowings. 

 In other situations, however, and when the soil is not rich, the 

 poppy crop is the only one taken off the ground during the year, 

 and from the commencement of the rains in June or July, until 

 October, the ground is dressed and cleaned by successive plough- 

 ings and weedings, and manured to the extent which the means of 

 the cultiv^ator will permit. In the final preparation of the land in 

 October and November, the soil, after being well loosened and 

 turned up by the plough, is crushed and broken down by the pas- 

 sage of a heavy log of wood over its surface, and it is in this state 

 ready for sowing. 



The amount of produce from various lands differs considerably. 

 Under very favorable circumstances of soil and season, as much as 

 twelve or even thirteen seers (26 lbs.) of standard opium may be 

 obtained from each biggah of 27,225 square feet. Under less 

 favorable conditions the turn-out may not exceed three or four 

 seers, but tlie usual amount of produce varies from six to eight 

 seers per biggah. 



The chemical examination of different soils in connection with 

 their opium-producing powers, presents a field for profitable and 

 interesting inquiry ; nor is the least important part of the investi- 

 gation that which has reference to variations in the proportions of 

 the alkaloids (especially the morphia and narcotine), which occur 

 in opium produced in various localities. That atmospheric causes 

 exert a certain influence in determining these variations is probable; 

 that they influence the amount of produce, and cause alterations 

 in the physical appearance of the drug, are facts well known 

 to every cultivator : thus the effect of dew is to facilitate the flow 

 of the juice from the wounded capsule, rendering it abundant in 

 quantity, but causing it at the same time to be dark and liquid. 

 An easterly wind (which in India is usually concomitant with a 

 damp state of atmosphere), retards the flow of juice, and renders 

 it dark and liquid. A moderate westerly wind, with dew at night, 

 form the atmospheric conditions most favorable for collection, both 

 as regards the quantity and quality of the exudation. If, however, 

 the westerly wind (which is an extremely dry wind) blow violently, 

 the exudation from the capsules is sparing. Whilst the effect of 

 meteorological phenomena in producing the above results are well 

 marked, their action in altering the relative proportions of the 

 chemical constituents of the juice of the poppy plant is more ob- 



