11 JANUARY 1902, Page 15

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.")

SIR,—Mr. Eric M. Wilkins in the Spectator of January 4th is in error in describing the common red poppy as the papaver somniferum. The poppy of the cornfields is the papaver rhoeas, and this plant contains no morphine, and is devoid of any " virtue dormitiva."—I am, Sir, &c.,

DICE DUCKWORTH.