82.  Papaver somniferum.  Maw-seed.—­The large white Opium Poppy is grown for seed for feeding birds, and also for pressing the oil, which is used by painters.  The heads are also used by the apothecaries; which see under the head Medicinal Plants.  About two pounds of seed to the acre.

83.  Phalaris canariensis.  Canary-seed.—­This is grown mostly in the Isle of Thanet, and sent to London &c. for feeding canary and other song-birds, and considered a very profitable crop to the farmer.  It is sown in April, and the quantity of seed is about one bushel and a half per acre.

84.  Pisum sativum.  The pea [Footnote:  At the request of Sir John Sinclair I made an experiment, from directions given by a French emigrant, of mixing Pease with urine in which had been steeped a considerable quantity of pigeon’s dung.  In the course of twenty-four hours they had swoln very much, when they were put into the ground.  An equal quantity were steeped in water; and the same quantity also that had not been steeped, were sown in three adjoining spots of land.  There was a difference in the coming up of the crops, of some days in each; but that with the above preparation took the lead, and was by far the best crop on the ground.  This is an experiment worth attending to.  It is usual to prepare wheat in a similar way, but no other grain that I have ever heard of.].—­The Gray Hog-pea used to be the only one considered sufficiently hardy for culture in the fields; but since the improvement in our agriculture we have all the finer varieties cultivated in large quantities.  The seed used is about two bushels and a half per acre, and the produce varies from three to ten quarters.

The varieties of Peas are many, but the principal ones used in agriculture are the Early Charlton Pea; the Dwarf Marrow; the Prussian Blue.  All these are dwarf kinds; and as the demand for this article in time of war is great for the navy and army, if the farmer’s land will suit, and produce such as will boil, they will fetch a considerably greater price in proportion.

The varieties that are found to boil are either used whole, or split, which is done by steeping them in water till the cotyledons swell, after which they are dried on a kiln and passed through a mill; which just breaking the husk, the two cotyledons fall apart.

85.  Polygonum Fagopyrum.  Buck-wheat.—­This is usually sown in places where pheasants are bred, as the seed is the best food for those birds; it is also useful for poultry and hogs.  I have eaten bread and cakes made of the flower, which are also very palatable.  Two bushels are usually sown per acre.  The season is May; and it is often sown on foul land in the summer, as it grows very thick on the land, and helps to clean it by smothering all the weeds.  The crop does not stand on the ground more than ten or twelve weeks.