OCR Text |
Show WHITE POPPY. WHITE POPPY, me, I corisidered it’ as a deviation from my original purpose, and therefore, without paying any attention to it, gave the field asummer fallowing, conceiving that poppies might be sown with equal and perhaps greater advantage in autumn. Finding that the broad-cast method of sowing precludedthe possibility of hoeing where the land is much infested with weeds, this point, and hints the probability of their being cultivated al. 514 I now adopted a different mode, and drilled in the seed with a very simple yet efficient machine, which I purchased of Mr. Macdougal, of Oxford-strect; but, as the weather began to be very severe so early as November, and continued so with few most every where. 515 I well know that poppies, like many other vegetables, will grow in soils of every description; but of this I amfully assured, that, like the rest, they have all their par. ticular 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 expenses of cultivation, scarification, and collectin g, will be incurred for perhaps a fourth share of the produce, I shall now lay before the Society some general remarks intermissions, the succeeding March found me verylittle forwarder. Yet I persevered, and once more resolvedto drill the on the cultivation of poppies, and then conclud e with submit. whole five acres: they came up extremely well, and, as I expected, accompanied with innumerable weeds ; but these by opium. well-timed application were eradicated, though not without considerable difficulty. I now thought myself secure; for nothing could assume a better appearance, till the beginning of May. Alas! I could not foresee the cold and remarkably dry weather that ensucd, 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 torescue 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 I began’ to despair of even procuring this, com- paratively 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 cooperation ; 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, respecting the quality of land adapted to the growth of poppies. He seems to be very little acquainted about ting a few hints and directions respecting the preparat ion of Having a tap-root, their size will consequently be propor. tionate to the depth of earth they are. enabled to penetrate, Hence the necessity of land that will admit of deep plough. ing. ‘The fineness of the surface, too, is very essential . As the seed is so small, and the plants, on their first coming up, so exceedingly tender, the bush-harrowshould always be usedafter those which are commonly employed. By this means a greater numberare likely to vegetate, and, from being better protecte 3 are less liable to inj ary. Poppies (and when I use this name I mean -that particular kind before specified) may be cultivated both by the drill and broad-cast mode of husbandry: at the same time it must bere. membered, that the land foreach requires a different disposition, In the formerthis is not so material, the sowing machine reguJating the distances of the rows according to the will of the opetrator: these ought to be nine inches or a foot asunder, andin beds containing four rows, allowing a foot and a half between each, But, with respect to the latter, this point must be strictly attended to: the ridges should never exceed four feet in breadth ; {0 that the furrows will answer the double purpose of preserving the land throughout the winter, and, in the season for collecting the opium, serve as paths to the work men. Besides two chances of a crop, I amdecided ly in favour of autumnal sowing ; and the first week in September seems to be the most favourable period for this purpo se. If the weather continues open, theywill make such a.pro gress as to be capable of resisting the severity of an incle ment winter, without, on the 222 |