154? WHITE POPPY. 
vated on a large scale, between Marseilles and Toulon, 
and in many parts of Italy. 
In the early part of the summer it begins to flower, 
and the flowers continue successively to appear till the 
commencement of winter. The buds are picked, every 
morning, before the petals are expanded : and, as they 
are gathered, they are put into vinegar and salt. When 
a sufficient quantity is collected, they are distributed, 
according to their size, into different vessels, again put 
into vinegar, and then packed up for sale and exporta- 
tion. This pickle is much used in sauce for boiled 
mutton. To persons unaccustomed to it, the taste of 
capers is unpleasant ; but, after a little while, the palate 
becomes reconciled to it. 
The bark of the root cut into slices, and dried in 
small rolls or quills like cinnamon, is sometimes used 
in medicine in cases of obstruction of the liver. 
The flower-buds of the marsh marygold (Callha 
palustris)', and of nasturtiums, are frequently pickled 
and eaten as a substitute for capers. 
171. The WHITE POPPY (Papaver somniferum) is a 
naturalized English plant, with smooth calyx and seed-vessels, 
and zoith leaves embracing the stem, which grows wild in neg- 
lected gardens, and some corn-Jields, and to which we are in- 
debted for tzco important medicines, opium and laudanum. 
Although the white poppy has long been naturalized 
in this country, it is supposed that we were originally 
indebted for it to some of the northern parts of Asia. 
Throughout nearly the whole of that quarter of the 
world it is cultivated with great attention, on account 
of the opium which is obtained from it. Opium is the 
dried juice of the seed-vessels, and is thus procured: 
After the petals have fallen off, and the seed-vessels 
are about half grown, the latter are wounded on one 
side, with an instrument having four or five teeth, the 
gashes being made about an, inch in length. A gluti- 
nous, milky fluid exudes from the wounds: this is 
carefully scraped oft] 'on the ensuing day, by a person 
