360 
caravan to Moscow or Petersburgh, it is again put into the hands of persons 
skilled in pharmacy, who have the care of its being properly dressed, and of 
none but the true sort being admitted: so that after all these cautions none 
but the choicest and fairest pieces can be exported. If then such a selection 
were made here, and it were kept a due time, the British Rhubarb might 
probably equal any of the foreign; especially if other circumstances were 
attended to, which will be mentioned, when we come to the culture and 
curing of it. 
This account may serve to show both the ardour of this respectable 
Society in encouraging the growth of this useful article, and the persevering 
industry of some gentlemen in overcoming all the difficulties attendant on 
introducing a new plant into cultivation, finding out the means of curing it 
as an article for extensive sale, and overcoming the prejudices of such as 
cannot persuade themselves that a drug of British growth can bear a compe¬ 
tition with what is sent us from foreign countries. 
To conclude. The Duke of Athol has raised Rhubarb in Scotland, which 
was thought by eminent druggists, and gentlemen of the medical profession 
in London, to be nearly if not quite equal to the Russian, in smell, taste, and 
effect. By paying a little more attention to the curing, they conceived that 
its beauty might be increased: upon which, the year after, his Grace sent up 
specimens of still superior quality/ 
It having braved the climate of St. Petersburgh, and succeeded well in 
Scotland, is a sufficient proof of its hardiness. Dr. Robertson informs us 
that it grows luxuriantly in Perthshire (lat 56 °): that gardeners and others 
raise it there in great perfection; and that there is in Scotland a constant 
demand for it as a medicine. 
The next article I shall mention is the white Poppy (Papaver alba), 
which originally came from Asia, and is there much cultivated, and which 
produces the Opium imported from thence, which comes to us in flat cakes, 
covered with leaves: it has a reddish brown colour, inclining to black, and 
a strong peculiar smell. Six hundred thousand pounds of it are annually 
exported from the Ganges! It is remarkable that the seeds possess not any 
or a very slight narcotic quality. They consist of a simple farinaceous matter, 
united with a bland oil, and serve as food in some countries, and are given 
to fatten poultry. 
* Bath Papers, Vol. III. p. 445. 
