south of France, Germany, and
Flanders.

_Use._--"The oil of the seeds of the Poppy is of an agreeable flavor;
and, in Europe, is chiefly applied to domestic purposes, for which it is
esteemed nearly equal to that of the Olive. Its consumption in this
country is comparatively trifling; being principally used for the finer
kinds of oil-painting and by druggists."

OPIUM, OR WHITE POPPY. _Law._

P. somniferum, album vel candidum.

Plant strong and vigorous,--the stem, in favorable situations, reaching
a height of five or six feet; flowers large, white, and of short
duration; seed-pods globular, of large size, often measuring upwards of
two inches in diameter; seeds small, white, ripening in August and
September.

_Sowing and Cultivation._--"Being an annual plant, the Poppy, when sown
in spring, matures its seed the last of summer or early in autumn. It is
of easy culture, and can be successfully grown in any section of the
Northern or Middle States. It may be sown at any time during the month
of April, or the first week in May. The best method of cultivating the
plant is in rows two feet and a half apart; and, on the poppies
attaining a few inches in height, they are hoed out to a distance from
one another of six or eight inches.

"Opium is obtained from the capsules or heads of seed, and is extracted
after they are fully formed, but while yet green. The process is simple,
and may be taught to children in an hour.

"Two or more vertical incisions are made in the capsule with a sharp
knife or other instrument, about an inch in length, and not so deep as
to penetrate through the capsule. As soon as the incisions are made, a
milky juice will flow out, which, being glutinous, will adhere to the
capsule. This may be collected by a small hair-brush such as is used by
painters, and squeezed into a small vessel carried by the person who
collects the juice. The incisions are repeated at intervals of a few
days all round the capsule, and the same process of collecting the
exuded juice is also repeated.

"The juice thus collected is Opium. In a day or two, it is of the
consistence to be worked up into a mass. The narcotic matter of the
plant may also be collected by boiling; but it is only the exuded juice
that forms pure Opium.

"In the opium countries of the East, the incisions are made at sunset by
several-pointed knives or lancets. On the following day the juice is
collected, scraped off with a small iron scoop, an