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ferent mode, and drilled in the seed with a very simple yet efficient machine, 
which I purchased of Mr. Macdougal, of Oxford-street: but, as the weather 
began to be very severe so early as November, and continued so with few 
intermissions, the succeeding March found me very little forwarder. Yet I 
persevered, and once more resolved to drill the whole five acres: they came 
up extremely well, and, as I expected, accompanied with innumerable weeds; 
but these by well-timed application were eradicated, though not without con¬ 
siderable difficulty. 
I now thought myself secure; for nothing could assume a better appear¬ 
ance, till the beginning of May. Alas! I could not foresee the cold and 
remarkably dry weather that ensued, and prevailed, I believe, for six weeks 
successively. Hence the growth of some became stunted, and others were 
entirely destroyed; but happily some warm refreshing showers fell just time 
enough to rescue the remainder. 
From these I have procured upwards of twenty-one pounds of solid Opium, 
five of which, in compliance with the Society’s requisition, I have sent for 
their inspection and examination. 
At one time 1 began to despair of even procuring this, comparatively 
speaking, small quantity, though it is not a fifth part of what I ought to 
have had, owing to the extraordinary rains and winds which we experienced 
through the whole of the summer months. 
This recital, as I have before observed, ought on no account to intimidate 
others from a co-operation; for it is obvious, that the former inconveniences 
originated in my own ignorance, whilst the latter depended upon causes that 
in all probability may never occur again. 
Mr. Ball, in a letter published in one of the volumes of the Society’s 
Transactions, advances an opinion which I consider as very fallacious, respect¬ 
ing the quality of land adapted to the growth of Poppies. He seems to be 
very little acquainted about this point, and hints the probability of their being 
cultivated almost every where. I well know that Poppies, like many other 
vegetables, will grow in soils of every description; but of this I am fully 
assuied, that, like the rest, they have all their particular and favourite soil, 
viz. a sandy loam, and that the better this is, the more advantages will accrue 
to the cultivator: for it should be considered, that, in bad, as well as good 
ground, the same expences of cultivation, scarification, and collecting, will 
be incurred, for perhaps a fourth share of the produce. 
