Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-03
THE POPPY.
Opium and its Culturc-An Impor-
tant Branch of Industry.


Opium and its Culturc-An HmPo1
tant Branch of Industry.
, | To the Editors of the Union and American:
: Having found it impossible 10 procur
! pure article of opium in commerce
: even at very high price ($14 to $40 pc
pound, and believing it might be cult
waited successfully in this climate and soil
we ordered from importers the popp,
seed, which we have distributed gratu
itously to parties who will take an ACTIVE
interest in its culture, and report success
We are giving it fair trial under oul
own supervision, and to those who arr
interested and desire the advantage oil
our research, we take pleasure in giving
the following items:
OPIUM (PAPAvER soMNIFERUM.
This plant is probably a native of some
of the warmer parts of Asia, although il
is now very generally cultivated through
out the South and middle of Europe, and
grown in some places in the United
States.
There are several kinds of poppy, but
that variety which produces white flow
ers and white seed is considered best for
opium. The seeds of the poppy are very
small and with care in sowing, one or
two ounces is sufficient for an acre. The
soil should be fine and loose when the
seeds are sown. Deep cross blowing.
two or three times each way, thorough
narrowing will ensure best results.
When the ground is ready lay off in drills
feet apart and plant from to 2 feet
in the rows. Cover slightly if at all.
Plant in April or May, sooner might be
better for this climate. When the seeds
are sown the subsequent cultivation con-
ssts chiefly in thinning and wedding.
Heavy rich manuring is deemed most
favorable, Irrigation is practiced with
marked results. The cultivation should
be as thorough as cotton culture and
similar in many respects.
The narcotic juice is developed only
about Towering time. As soon as the
flowers from a sufficient number of
poppy heads have fallen, the cultiyator,
armed with sharp knife, passes through
the field in the morning and wounds all
ripe heads by horizontal missions. Dur
ing the day the milky juice of the plant
oozes out and collects on the capsule.
The following morning it is gathered by
being scraped off with q dull knife or
scoop, and transferred to a plate or
saucer, and set away in the shade to dry.
After it drys sufficiently it is worked up
into homogeneous mass, rolled into balls,
covered with poppy leaves, and then it is
ready for use. You can by this process
rely on having pure opium, which |
is very scarce in this country.
Prof. Carson, of Philadelphia, who has
taken great interest in this subject, several |
years ago offered 500 in gold for a single |
pound of pure Turkish opium, if it was
found in the country; he was unable to |
getit. The Doctor has cultivated the |
poppy and produced his own opium, and |
writes me that he believes it can be sue |
cessfully produced in this country.
Prof. Joseph Bates, NJ D., editor of The |
Of Mdtcrja Medjcd, published |
at New Lebanon, New York, writes me |
that he has grown hispoppy and produced |
his opium for the past five years, and that |
all the physicians in New Lebanon have |
used it and pronounce it purer and far |
more reliable than any procured in COM
merce. He also writes that our climate is |
better suited TO its growth than his, and |
that the enterprise is noble one and will |
prove not only remunerativein the highest |
degree, but beneficial to our people.
There are over 100, 600, 900 pounds of |
opium consumed annually in China, and |
more than 100000 pounds imported to
this country every year, with a tariff of |
IS. 90 per round. 1t is estimated that |
from fifty to 100 pounds can even now be
produced to the acre. Its consumption is
rapidly increasing. AS medicine opium
is invaluable. Pereira says: ''You can
find one medicine to take the place of an
other in every article of the materia med |
lea, except the valuable medicine opium, |
which has no substitute"
Under all the circumstances l have |
thought it safe and expedient to try the |
cultivation of the poppy and the produc
ton of opium. have some of the genu- |
inc imported poppy seed which | shall be |
glad to distribute gratuitously to those who |
desire to make trial of its cultivation. |
If it shall succeed it will soon become a
matter of crest commercial Importance; |
if it shall fail no great loss can occur.
JoHN W. MOTION,
Drupuisf No II Puhlic SuuaTe |