1 
550     CULTIVATION  OF  THE  OPIUM  POPPY  IN  AUSTRALIA. 
or  8  grams  of  glycerin,  which  redissolves  the  hydrated  oxide  of 
copper  that  had  been  precipitated. 
This  liquid  should  not  become  turbid  when  diluted  with  two- 
thirds  of  bulk  of  water  nor  when  boiled. 
The  copper  solution  may  also  be  prepared  by  dissolving  hy- 
drated oxide  of  copper  in  a  mixture  of  glycerin  and  caustic  soda. 
The  hydrated  oxide  is  best  obtained  by  adding  soda  solution  to 
an  ammoniacal  solution  of  sulphate  of  copper,  washing  the  pre- 
cipitate and  drying  over  oil  of  vitriol. 
For  6  grams  of  this  hydrated  oxide  there  should  be  6  or  8 
grams  of  glycerin,  50  grams  of  water  and  56  grams  of  soda  solu- 
tion of  the  strength  above  mentioned.  This  mixture  is  then 
diluted  as  may  be  requisite.  The  author  prefers  this  solution 
to  the  other.    It  does  not  become  turbid  with  alcohol. 
The  solutions  will  not  bear  considerable  dilution  without  de- 
positing hydrated  oxide  of  copper,  but  this  may  be  prevented 
by  increasing  the  proportion  of  glycerin  or  of  soda. — Lond. 
Pharm.  Journ.,  Sept.  3,  ISlOyfrom  Zeitschrift  filr  analytische 
Chemie. 
NOTES  ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  OPIUM  POPPY  IN 
AUSTRALIA. 
By  John  W.  Hood,  Chemist,  Melbourne. 
This  paper  was  communicated  by  Mr.  T.  N.  R.  Morson,  to- 
gether with  the  following  letter  addressed  to  the  Chairman  of 
the  Liverpool  Local  Committee  : 
38  Queen's  Square,  W.  C.  Sept.  10,  1870. 
My  dear  Mr.  Abraham, — I  this  day  send  you  the  paper  on  Opium  re- 
ceived last  mail  from  Melbourne  ;  it  is  a  highly  interesting-  paper,  and  at 
the  present  time  a  very  important  one.  I  have  no  doubt  that  very  good 
opium  can  be  produced  in  Australia,  and  at  a  reasonable  price.  To  the 
inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the  globe  its  home  culture  is  very  important, 
on  account  of  the  heavy  duty  on  that  imported  from  Europe.  I  have 
examined  several  samples  sent  me  at  various  times,  and  although  they 
varied  very  considerably  in  the  quantity  of  morphia  they  contained,  I 
consider  them  all  to  be  genuine  opiums. 
I  also  send  you  the  specimens  I  received  per  post  with  the  paper. 
Please  exhibit  them.  I  should  like  to  have  them  returned  to  me  after 
the  Conference  is  over.  I  wish  to  test  some  of  them,  and  afterwards  to 
send  them  to  the  Museum  in  Bloomsbury  Square,  in  Mr.  Hood's  name. 
T.  N.  R.  MoRsoN. 
