MUSEUMS 
127 
Museum 
No. I. 
readiest means of tracing a given specimen ; it is also found that, 
owing to the frequent similarity in the natural products of botanically 
related plants, it has often the effect of grouping together specimens 
of an allied character. The two important fibres, ramie and hemp, 
are examples ; both belong to and will here be found under Urticaceae 
— the Nettle Order. 
In Museum No. I. the arrangement of the specimens begins on the 
top floor with the products obtained from members of the natural 
order Ranunculaceae. It continues through the middle floor 
to the bottom one, where it ends with articles derived from 
poplars and willows. The objects are arranged in double- 
fronted cases 9 feet long, 2 feet 9 inches deep, and about 8 feet high. 
Each case is fitted with movable shelves, and is divided lengthwise, 
by a partition, into two compartments. 
To give some idea of the character of the exhibits, it will be best 
to describe those connected with some typical product. Opium may 
be selected as an example. This drug is obtained from a species of 
poppy ( Palaver somniferum) by incising the young seed-pods, and 
collecting the milky juice which exudes through the cut. In the 
Museum there is a picture of the plant and an exhibit of dried 
poppy-heads. These give an idea of the plant itself. There are 
also pictures illustrating the various field operations connected with 
the cultivation of this poppy, from the preparation of the ground 
for seed-sowing to the puncturing of the poppy-head and the harvest- 
ing. Then come specimens of the actual utensils used in the manu- 
facture of the raw material, and samples of the various forms in which 
opium is taken to market in different countries. A complete smoking 
apparatus (pipe, lamp, etc.) illustrates one well-known method of 
employing this drug; and there are models of recumbent figures 
on couches, showing the position the opium smoker usually adopts. 
Opium is used in many other ways. Various narcotics of great value 
in medicine are derived from it, such as laudanum and morphia, 
and samples of these are also exhibited. 
Taking at random a few other examples, we have cotton, jute, 
tobacco, Japanese lacquer, innumerable oils, essences, perfumes, etc., 
illustrated by raw material and finished articles. In the willow 
family, various stages in the manufacture of cricket bats are shown, 
and there are exhibited some interesting Exchequer tallies formerly 
used as receipts for payments made. It would, indeed, be difficult 
