ON THE CULTIVATION OF INDIGENOUS OPIUM. 321 
account of the variable produce which may compose each day's harvest, 
before deducing scientific results from them, for in my opinion they 
must make the value of the opium vary in quality. 
In effect, whilst the opium of the first day is usually gathered from 
the first capsules which appear on each stalk (those at the top of the 
plant), that of the second day must be obtained from the first capsules 
already incised, or from those capsules which did not appear upon the 
stalk until after the first, and finally on the third day of work, none but 
heads already exhausted are left to be operated on, or those newly come. 
Now, observation has clearly proved to me that the first fruits which 
appear on the stalks acquire a development much more considerable 
than the fruits of a later growth, which are always more or less stunted 
in size, and the juice of the former also appears to be more abundant and 
more Laden with active principles than in the latter. Therefore, the pro- 
duce of even one day's work may differ essentially, according as it is com- 
posed exclusively of juice taken from capsules of the same age, or a 
mixture of juice taken from the heads of young poppies and of capsules 
that have been incised several times. • 
Hence it is impossible, scientifically speaking, to admit or to reject 
this or that opinion, and new researches and fresh experiments become 
necessary. But to make them profitably we must first put the question 
clearly so that it may not have two solutions. And the question is 
either scientific or practical. If of a scientific character, we must operate 
on capsules of the same age and follow them in their development to 
maturity. Here is in my opinion the mode of operation for making 
important experiments, from which it will be possible to deduce scientific 
results. At the time of blossoming, to recognise afterwards the capsules 
of the same age, the peduncle should be decorated with a ribbon or some 
mark to point out the flowers which fade the same day. The capsules 
thus ornamented, that is to say those which are grown the same day 
must be divided into three series. . 
All the heads of the first series are to be incised before they arrive 
at their full growth. 
Those of the second series are not to be operated on until they are 
fully grown, although still green ; and lastly, the incisions of the third 
series are not to be made until the capsules have become the colour of a 
dead leaf. Then by analysing separately the produce obtained, we can be 
certain of what takes place during maturation, 
I have never had time to try these experiments which I purpose 
making this year. 
But if the question is merelyof a practical nature there no longer remains 
the shadow of a doubt, for every one knows that the opium resulting 
from a first incision made at the proper time is richer than the juice 
gathered in at two operations, only because of operating on the first and 
consequently on the finest capsules in the plantation. This is so true, 
that the last incisions do not pay by their product lor the time they take 
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