THE POPPY IN CHINA. 
The date of the introduction of opium in China is a 
moot point. Even Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector-Gen¬ 
eral of Chinese Customs, in his introduction to the re¬ 
ports above referred to, can say nothing more definite 
about it than that “ native opium was known, produced, 
and used long before any European began the sale of 
the foreign drug along the coast.” Chinamen them¬ 
selves are no better informed ; and it is only, therefore, 
by references to the poppy and to opium in the litera¬ 
ture of the country that we can gain any positive 
information on the subject. The dictionaries tell us that 
the poppy has at different periods been known under tbe 
names of Yu me Inca, “imperial grain flower Menang 
Inca, “ grain-bag flowerand Ying suh Inca, “pitcher- 
grain flower.” Both the last names refer to the shape 
of the seed-capsules, and the other finds an explanation 
in the 'History of the Later Han Dynasty’ (a.d. 25- 
220), where we read that at that period it was the duty 
of two especially-appointed court officials to superintend 
the making of Yu me (poppy-seed) cakes for the Empe¬ 
ror's use. Of course the seeds of the poppy do not con¬ 
tain opium ; but it is obvious that some glutinous 
substance must have been used in making up the cakes, 
and it is not a rash conjecture that the juice from the 
capsules was that used for the purpose. This is the 
more probable since the juice has long been employed in 
a like manner in making the cakes known as ‘ poppy- 
juice fish.” According to K’anghe’s celebrated Ency¬ 
clopedia (published in 1730), those cakes are made of 
flour formed into dough by the admixture of the juice 
of the poppy and are then kneaded into cakes shaped in 
the likeness of fish. Under the later Han dynasty just 
referred to, the capital was in the province of Sze cli’uen, 
where the poppy is at the present day largely grown ; 
but we learn from the ‘ Shwuy king choo,’ a work 
referring to a somewhat later period, that the plant 
was not confined to that district, since mention is 
therein made of its flourishing also in the province of 
Kwang-se. 
The instinctive admiration which the Chinese have 
always felt for coloring, especially in flowers, has gain¬ 
ed lor the poppy a high place in their estimation. But, 
from the nature of the literature, the expression of 
their admiration must be looked for mainly in the works 
of the poets. Their enthusiasm for the poppy-blossom, 
however, is vastly heightened by an appreciation of the 
charms of the juice and the strengthening qualities of 
the seeds ; at all events, these virtues of the plant find 
prominent mention in Chinese poetry. With Yung 
T’aou, of the Tang dynasty (a. d. G1S-907), the pleasure of 
sight seems to have predominated. While on a journey 
this poet was so enchanted by a field of poppies, possi¬ 
bly because they reminded him of similar scenes in his 
native province of Sze ch’uen, that he forgot (lie says) 
all the griefs of ten thousand miles of travel. The poet 
Soo Cleh (1009-1112) dwells, in an ode, on the curative 
and invigorating effects of the poppy-seeds and juice ; 
and Soo Sung, of about the same period, a native of 
Full-keen, praises the beauty of the plant, which he 
speaks of as being grown “everywhere” (ch'oo cli’oojl 
The first medical man who speaks of the juice of the 
poppy in a professional point of view is a certain Choo 
Chin-hang, a native of Che-keang, who lived during the 
end of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth 
century. “At the present day,” writes this author 
“ many people suffering from cough and weakness take 
the juice of the poppy as a remedy. It is also a cure for 
fever arising from damp, and for dysentery. But,” he 
adds, “ though its value as a medicine is great, it yet 
kills men like a double-edged sword (Ska jin joo keen), 
and its use should therefore be avoided at all hazards.”— 
St. James' Gazette. 
this way, the bulbs will flower three or four times during 
the summer. 
The flowers are produced on footstalks about ten 
inches high, and are finely adapted for bouquet making. 
They are like miniature Lilies in shape and are very 
beautiful. There are several varieties in cultivation, all 
desirable. Z. Candida is a very hardy variety, in many 
localities enduring the winter in open ground ; the- 
flowers are snowy white. 
Z. Rosea is a very pretty plant with rose-colorecl flow¬ 
ers, frequently with longitudinal variegations of white : 
this variety is often sold as Fairy Lily. Z. Atumasco is 
a white variety, the flowershaving a pearly appearance. 
Z. Vilmoriensis is a comparatively new variety, large 
white blooms. Z. Chloroleuca has a pretty orange yellow 
flower and is unique. 
Lilium Wallacei. 
This is a Japanese variety of recent introduction, and 
is one of the most distinct ever offered. It is considered 
by Professor Baker, who is an acknowledged authority 
of Lilies, a garden hybrid, probably a cross between. 
Zephyranthes. 
These are handsome little bulbous plants, nearly re¬ 
lated to the queenly Amaryllis. They were formerly, 
for many years, classed under that genus, and are even 
now frequently sold as a species of Amaryllis under the 
pseudonym of A. Atamasco. They are now recognized 
as a distinct genus by the best botanical authorities. 
The Zephyranthes are alike valuable for pot and border 
culture. For pot culture they are particularly valuable, 
as they flower, if properly treated, in from twenty to 
thirty days after planting. For this kind of culture, the 
bulbs may be planted at any time during the winter, in 
six inch pots filled with a moderately rich, light loam, 
four bulbs in each pot. Plant the bulb so that at least 
one-third of its length will be above the surface of the 
soil; then water and set in a warm, dark closet for seven 
or eight days; then remove to the window or green¬ 
house, setting the pot as close as possible to the glass. 
For border culture, keep the bulb dry until about the 
first of May; then plant in light rich soil, being careful 
not to entirely cover the neck of the bulb. Plant the 
bulbs in clumps of three each for a good display. Set in 
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