IMPROVEMENTS IN CANADA. O] 



roent of hemp would be greatly extended, the farmer would 

 generally be in possession of fresh seed, and when grain 

 becomes less an object, he would feel no fear in turning 

 his attention to the culture of hemp upon a large scale : and, 

 in order to encourage the farmer, it would prove highly ad- 

 vantageous to take in any quantity, great or small, of sound 

 hemp, assorted perhaps into four or five qualities, according 

 to its length, which will vary for some years to come, for the 

 reasons before given. 



The high price of labour, owing in some measure to the High price of 

 high price of grain, is such, that hemp, agreeable to the , j lbourand «f 

 present regulations, is not an object with the farmer; if an 

 addition of about a third of the present price was given, it 

 would be an inducement for the farmers to cultivate their 

 old fields in a more spirited maimer; which bounty might 

 be taken off again, when grain becomes less an object than 

 it is at present, which will soon be the case in time of peace, 

 and no doubt will affect the price of hemp in proportion in 

 the English market. 



In all new countries where labourers are scarce, we find Contrivances 

 many contrivances calculated for the purpose of reducing j u ' diminishing 

 labour, more for the sake of expedition than ease ; such, 

 for instance, as the saw mill, the hoe ploughs, scythe and 

 cradle for cutting and gathering grain, the wooden machine 

 (drawn round by one horse) for thrashing grain, the iron 

 shod shovel, drawn by oxen, and held by two handles, as a 

 plough, for the purpose of levelling the roads, &c. Nor 

 are the Americans, or other settlers in this country, fond of 

 any work that needs violent exercise of the body ; which 

 the breaking of hemp in the old way certainly occasions, in Disadvantage 

 consequence of requiring a cross motion of the arm, which of breaking 

 makes the breakers complain of a pain about the short ribs ^d way. 

 on the side they hold the hemp ; and on the opposite side a 

 little under the shoulders, so that breaking of hemp in the 

 old way is a great obstacle to its increased culture. To 

 render labour, therefore, somewhat more easy and expedi- 

 tious, is an object worthy the first attention, and I consider 

 it practicable at a small expense, and have sent to the So- 

 ciety a model of a machine for this purpose. 



I have observed among the clothiers 1 and fullers* ma- D &s n wheel* 



chinery, 



