The colors are exactly the tints most of us admire, and if there be any one of these colors we do not like, we can choose others, for most of our Poppies are sold under variety names. The Ranunculus-flowered sorts are double varieties of the Shirley type. Of course, Poppies are excellent in beds by themselves, or sown in the border, where some other flower has failed. Some persons believe that Poppies are not good cut flowers. But the poet did not know that if he had plucked the Poppy in bud just before it had shed its green calyx, it would have lasted well in water.
Poppies are exquisite cut flowers when cut properly.
Opium is obtained from the juice of the Poppy which coagulates upon the stems when they are injured. Harvesting of opium takes place about the middle of March. The merchants shape it into round disks, each weighing from two to three grams. These disks are brushed with the white of an egg to present a better appearance. Dry, pure opium is black-red, resembling cooked coffee.