POPPY-SEED. 



73 



violet-brown, and should have a sweet, nutty, and mildly 

 spiced taste. 



The remaining varieties of seed may, with careful atten- 

 tion, be distinguished as follows : — 



Winter-rape-seed and cole-seed have darker, blackish- 

 brown, and much larger grains, the taste of which is 

 decidedly bitter. For the purchase of the best summer 

 seed, unadulterated with ivy-seed, one should apply only to 

 absolutely reliable seed shops, the owners of which are 

 reputed to be efficient, as w T ell as honest, tradesmen. The 

 canary-seed, or, more correctly, canary grass-seed, also known 

 as " shiny " or " pointed " seed, must be dry, clear-yellow, 

 shiny, and must have very large grains. It must not have 

 a musty, or otherwise disagreeable smell ; it is a wholesome 

 and palatable food for many species of birds, among others 

 also for the common German, as well as the Dutch and 

 English canary. 



Hemp-seed must be pure and have large grains. It must 

 also be free from a rancid or musty smell, and must have a 

 sweet, and by no means a sharp, taste. It should be neither 

 too fresh, nor too old ; it is considered to be an excellent and 

 strengthening food, not only for German and Dutch canaries, 

 but also for all other birds belonging to the finch species, as 

 food for younger birds. It will, of course, have to be 

 crushed, but no more at a time than is required for one 

 meal, because it is subject to becoming rancid ; the older 

 birds will split the grains for themselves. Some fanciers 

 boil the hemp-seed, but I do not consider this method as 

 equally wholesome. 



Poppy-Seed, both blue and white, is principally given 

 as a medicament in cases which will be further detailed 

 under the head of " Diseases." 



The colour, in each case, must be pure. The grains must 

 be perfectly ripe and well-dried. Their smell must be neither 



