175 
THE WHITE POPPY. 
PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM. 
“ Within the infant rind of this small flower 
Poison hath residence, and med’cine power ; 
Oh ! mickle is the powerful grace that lies 
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities, 
For nought so vile that on the earth doth live 
But to the earth some special good doth give, 
Nor aught so good, but, strain’d from that fair use 
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.” 
To man, for whom, as a portion of the primal curse, 
painful days “ and wearisome nights are appointed,” 
this “precious-juiced flower” must needs be interesting, 
even though it were destitute of any other recommend¬ 
ation than its soothing properties j but the poppy 
possesses considerable beauty both in form, colour, and 
mode of growth, and the larger varieties cultivated in 
gardens are eminently handsome. Sir J. E. Smith 
enumerates six species indigenous to Great Britain, one 
of which, Papaver cambricum, he says, “ is deliciously 
fragrant.” This, however, must be an exception to the 
