Opium poppy garden : the way of a Chinese grower / by William Griffith.

"Opium Poppy Garden is the only book available that describes the cultivation, harvest, and pharmacology of opium in a format that combines literary and instructional writing. The heart of the book is the tale of Ch'ien, a young Chinese man who travels from Costa Rica to Columbia to grow an opium garden in the manner his Taoist grandfather taught him. The story, in conjunction with 'The Cultivator's Diary' and the technical appendix, provide the reader with a working knowledge of this plant."--From cover.